The Hungarian think tank Nézőpont Institute has accused the European Union of undermining the rule of law in a new report released on November 19.
The document, compiled by 20 researchers from 10 countries, criticizes the EU for failing to uphold the principles enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty and earlier agreements. During the presentation, Nézőpont CEO Mráz Ágoston announced plans to make this an annual initiative, aligning it with the European Commission’s rule-of-law reviews. He argued, “Until now, Brussels bureaucracy has been assessing member states, but no one has scrutinized Brussels itself.”
One critique focused on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s alleged breach of the separation of powers by acting as part of the European Council. She was accused of projecting an “unmerited” presidential image. International lobbyist Daniel Guéguen further criticized commissioner hearings, labeling them as lacking analysis, debate, and alternatives. “The Brussels bubble has become a machine serving political correctness, where expressing dissent is becoming dangerous,” Guéguen claimed, adding that the system erodes checks and balances.
The report accused the European Parliament (EP) of overstepping its authority, particularly in attempting to nominate the European Commission president—a move the think tank said violates treaties and undermines member states’ roles. It also alleged discrimination against right-wing parties, excluding them from key positions like vice-presidencies and financial oversight roles. “Making it harder for parties with strong societal support to participate in politics breaches the principle of equal rights,” the report stated.
Further criticisms targeted the EP’s involvement in national security issues, such as its Pegasus spyware investigation, which the report argued exceeded its mandate. Shortcomings in anti-corruption rules, conflicts of interest, and scandals like Qatargate were also highlighted. The think tank pointed to EP President Roberta Metsola’s husband’s lobbying activities and lax asset declaration rules as examples.
The European Commission didn’t escape scrutiny either. The report claimed its rule-of-law framework violates treaties and serves as a political tool, especially in distributing recovery funds. Alleged scandals, such as the Pfizergate controversy and conflicts of interest involving senior officials, were cited as evidence of systemic issues.
Even the European Court of Justice came under fire, with allegations that it exceeded its powers and lacked independence. The report questioned the integrity of some judges who had been politically active or held leadership roles in political parties.
Nézőpont argued that its goal wasn’t to strengthen oversight but to ensure EU institutions adhere to treaty principles, calling for greater accountability and balance within the bloc.
