Rule of Law in the EU: share of citizens well informed about other EU countries 2021

The rule of law refers to the principle that in liberal democracies governments and public authorities are bound by clear and transparent rules, and that these rules are respected by all parties. Examples of the rule of law include respect for the fundamental rights of citizens, adherence to legal rulings and legislation, and the safeguarding of independent institutions with the powers to oversee governments.

In spite of the rule of law being a fundamental principle of the European Union, very few citizens report being well informed about the state of the rule of law in member states other than their own. Only in Poland do a majority of respondents say they are well informed, which is perhaps a result of the large amount of attention paid to the rule of law in Poland due to the judiciary reforms put forward by the Law & Justice (PiS) government since taking power in 2015.