2026 Justice Scoreboard highlights importance of effective justice systems for EU competitiveness and Single Market

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

Today, the European Commission published the fourteenth edition of the EU Justice Scoreboard, an annual report providing comparative data on the efficiency, quality, and independence of the justice systems among EU Member States.

The 2026 edition shows an improved perception of the independence and efficiency of justice systems. It also highlights the essential role of effective justice systems and independent authorities in fostering a fair and competitive environment, including data on key actors of the Single Market. For the first time, the Scoreboard also includes an overview of the competences of Member States’ highest administrative courts and ordinary courts in business-related cases.

The findings of this year’s Scoreboard will feed into the Commission’s 2026 Rule of Law Report, including its Single Market dimension.

Key findings of 2026 EU Justice Scoreboard

Independent Single Market authorities

For the first time, the Scoreboard provides information on the term of office of the bodies responsible for reviewing public procurement decisions. The findings are positive, showing that in most Member States, the members and presidents of such bodies are appointed for a limited and renewable term. The 2026 edition also presents an updated overview on the way that national competition authorities are appointed and dismissed and shows that the executive plays an important role in nearly all Member States.

Anti-Corruption

The 2026 Scoreboard introduces new and updated figures on anti-corruption, such as the length of judicial proceedings in bribery cases. In addition, it presents new figures on the functioning of national transparency registers, which help prevent corruption by ensuring transparent lobbying. The Scoreboard shows that 16 Member States have such a register in place, presenting an overview of how they work, and which officials are subject to transparency requirements in their interactions with lobbyists. These tools are crucial for good governance and accountability.

Digitalisation of justice systems

Digitalisation continues to progress across the EU: all 27 Member States now provide online information on their judicial systems, while 23 Member States allow online access to civil, commercial and administrative cases. The Scoreboard also highlights where more work is needed, with only six Member States having fully digital-ready procedural rules.

Efficiency and independence of justice

The Scoreboard shows that citizens in 17 Member States and companies in 18 Member States perceive judicial independence as having improved or remained stable, compared to last year. Many Member States continued improving the efficiency of their justice systems, building on reforms introduced in recent years to ensure effective access to justice. Similar to last year, eight Member States have recorded shorter proceedings across all categories (civil, commercial, administrative and other cases).

Access to justice

Most Member States are using digital technology in their first instance courts to make access to justice easier for persons with disabilities. Access to justice can also be improved through the involvement of other judicial authorities. This can alleviate the work of Courts and contribute to a more efficient justice system.  This is illustrated in the 2026 Scoreboard, which presents for the first time the different types of authorities involved in consensual divorce proceedings. All Member States now have specific arrangements to make judicial proceedings more child-friendly and better adapted to children’s needs.

Next steps

The EU Justice Scoreboard findings contribute to the monitoring carried out within the framework of the Annual Rule of Law Cycle and the European Semester. They will inform the Commission’s 2026 Rule of Law Report, as well as the final stages of the national Recovery and Resilience Plans.

Background

Launched in 2013, the EU Justice Scoreboard serves as an analytic tool to monitor reforms related to the efficiency, quality and independence of justice systems across EU Member States. It is part of the EU’s Rule of Law toolbox.

The 2026 edition answers the call for more detailed comparative data, including on the accessibility of justice for children, the digitalisation of justice, probationary periods for judges, and powers of Prosecutors General. The new indicators on the Single Market include how certain independent authorities contribute to the Single Market’s proper functioning.

With a budget of around €305 million for 2021-2027, the Justice Programme supports the development of the European area of justice based on the rule of law, including the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, on mutual recognition and mutual trust, and on judicial cooperation.

In 2025, around €40.7 million were provided to fund projects and other activities under the three specific objectives of the programme: (i) promotion of judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters; (ii) training of legal professionals on EU civil, criminal and fundamental rights law, legal systems of the Member States and the rule of law; (iii) promotion of access to justice (including e-Justice); protection of victims’ rights and the rights of persons suspected or accused of crime; and support to the development and use of digital tools and the maintenance and extension of the e-Justice portal.

For more information

2026 EU Justice Scoreboard

Q&A on 2026 EU Justice Scoreboard

2026 EU Justice Scoreboard Factsheet

2026 EU Justice Scoreboard quantitative data factsheet

CEPEJ Studies

2026 Rule of Law Report – targeted stakeholder consultation

Factsheet EU’s rule of law toolbox

EU Justice Scoreboard website