The European Commission's 2026 Rule of Law Report on Sweden, published on 17 July 2026, assesses the country's progress on judicial independence, anti-corruption, and media freedom, finding high overall standards but mixed results on several key recommendations. The report notes that perceived judicial independence remains very high (82% among the public, 89% among companies) and that constitutional amendments to strengthen judicial independence are progressing, with a second parliamentary vote required after the September 2026 elections and entry into force targeted for 1 April 2027. However, no progress has been made on the recommendation to safeguard lay judge independence, though the Lay Judges' Association is exploring measures such as a comprehensive training programme from 2027. Additional financial resources of EUR 2.44 billion for 2026-2028 have been allocated to courts to address rising caseloads and security needs, and a new collective agreement from October 2025 clarifies salary safeguards for judges. The government has also decided to appoint a new all-party committee of inquiry to investigate whether to enshrine the right to judicial review in the Constitution.
On anti-corruption, Sweden scores 80/100 in the 2025 Corruption Perception Index (3rd in the EU). The 2024-2027 Action Plan continues, and a comprehensive anti-corruption strategy is expected next. The government proposed a bill on 15 January 2026 to increase penalties for bribery and related offences, along with a separate bill on abuse of public office. Some progress has been made on foreign bribery with draft legislation pending, but enforcement has not improved. No progress has been made on following up the inquiry on revolving doors rules. New legislation strengthens political party financing and introduces a mandatory lobbying register.
In media and civic space, the new Public Service Act came into force in December 2025, updating rules and funding until 2033. Concerns persist that accelerated legislative work challenges public participation and legislation quality. As of 1 January 2026, Sweden had no leading European Court of Human Rights judgments pending implementation.
The report highlights that while Sweden maintains high judicial independence and low corruption perceptions, it faces criticism for inaction on lay judge nominations, foreign bribery enforcement, and revolving door rules. Constitutional reforms and anti-corruption legislation are in progress, but the Commission expects further action on outstanding recommendations.