The European Commission, in its 2026 Rule of Law Report country chapter on France published on 17 July 2026, acknowledges progress in digitalising courts and lobbying transparency but highlights persistent concerns over judicial independence, attacks on magistrates, and corruption perceptions. The report, a staff working document accompanying the broader 2026 Rule of Law Communication, notes that perceived judicial independence remains "average," with 56% of the public and 53% of companies rating it fairly or very good in 2026—a slight improvement from 51% among the public in 2025, while companies remained stable at 53%. Attacks on magistrates over judicial decisions have increased, with the High Council for the Judiciary, magistrates' associations, and the President of the Cassation Court flagging threats to safety and rule-of-law perception. France scores 66 out of 100 on Transparency International's 2026 Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking 11th in the EU and 27th globally, while 77% of respondents consider corruption widespread, above the EU average of 71%. The report recommends stepping up digitalisation of civil and criminal proceedings and extending lobbying disclosure obligations to top-executive-level officials.
The Commission finds that France has sustained its justice budget, aiming to recruit 1,500 magistrates and 1,800 clerks by 2027. By 1 December 2025, 489 magistrates and 571 clerks had been appointed, and the 2026 budget plans for 617 magistrates, 576 clerks, and 32 judicial assistants. Digitalisation efforts include the full implementation of criminal digital procedure for felonies and misdemeanours, continued civil e-reporting, and deployment of the Portalis tool in all labour courts and 46% of proximity courts, with a litigant portal expected to cover almost all civil litigation by end-2026. However, the report notes that court fees introduced via the 2026 Finance Act—EUR 50 for some civil and labour courts (exempt for legal aid beneficiaries) and a pilot tax up to 5% (max EUR 100,000) for economic affairs courts (2025–2028)—were declared constitutional with interpretation guidelines. The 2025–2029 National Plan Against Corruption, adopted in November 2025, includes 36 measures across four pillars.
The report's findings carry implications for several stakeholders. For French magistrates and judicial staff, the increased attacks on magistrates and persistent concerns over judicial independence may affect morale and recruitment, though the sustained budget for hiring 1,500 magistrates and 1,800 clerks by 2027 aims to alleviate workload pressures. For French citizens and businesses, the average perception of judicial independence and high corruption perception (77% of respondents consider corruption widespread) could undermine trust in the justice system, while digitalisation efforts like the litigant portal may improve access to justice. For the French government, the report's recommendations to step up digitalisation and extend lobbying transparency to top-executive-level officials create pressure to allocate further resources and amend legislation, potentially facing resistance from officials subject to new disclosure rules. For EU institutions, the report reinforces the Commission's role in monitoring rule-of-law standards across member states, providing a basis for potential follow-up in the European Parliament or Council discussions on judicial reforms and anti-corruption measures. The report does not propose new EU-level sanctions or funding conditions, but it adds to the annual cycle of rule-of-law assessments that inform the broader EU debate on democratic backsliding and institutional integrity.