The European Commission, in its 2026 Rule of Law Report country chapter on Germany published on 17 July 2026, assesses that Germany has made significant progress on judicial resources and digitalisation, but gaps remain on transparency, press access, and civil society funding. The chapter, part of the annual rule of law cycle, notes that perceived judicial independence is now very high: 82% of the general public and 77% of companies rate it ‘fairly or very good’ in 2026, up from 72% and 70% in 2025.
A new ‘Pact for the Rule of Law’ agreed in June 2026 provides EUR 240 million in federal funding to create around 2,000 new posts in Länder judiciaries, plus EUR 210 million for digitalisation over 2027-2029. The e-file deadline for all new cases was met by January 2026 in all Länder except Sachsen-Anhalt, which requested a one-year extension. Specialised commercial courts or chambers are operational in nine Länder; a working group on traditional commercial chambers will report findings in autumn 2026. A reform of the Residence Act adopted in December 2025 abolished mandatory legal representation in pre-removal detention cases, effective 1 June 2026.
However, no progress was made on creating a legislative footprint, a press right to information from federal authorities, or adapting the tax-exempt status for non-profit organisations. These areas remain flagged for further action. The chapter does not include new recommendations beyond those already in previous cycles.
The report impacts several stakeholders. For EU institutions, it provides a benchmark for monitoring rule of law compliance across member states. For German federal and Länder authorities, the positive assessment of judicial independence and the Pact for the Rule of Law funding offer a template for further reforms, but the lack of progress on transparency and press access may draw scrutiny from the European Parliament and civil society. For media and civil society organisations, the stagnation on press information rights and non-profit tax status represents a missed opportunity to strengthen democratic checks. For the legal sector and businesses, the improved judicial independence and digitalisation reduce procedural delays, while the specialised commercial courts enhance legal certainty for commercial disputes.
The Commission's 2026 Rule of Law Report will now be discussed in the Council and the European Parliament, where some MEPs may press Germany on the outstanding transparency and civil society issues.