The European Commission’s Rule of Law Report 2024, released on Wednesday, has criticised Austria for political interference in judicial appointments.
The report highlights a lack of progress in involving the judiciary in selecting court presidents for administrative courts, which is contrary to European standards.
Austria has also made little progress in reforming the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, improving transparency in asset declarations for members of parliament, and enhancing the monitoring of lobbying activities.
Overall, the report acknowledges that Austria’s judiciary is “very independent” and “efficient,” while also pointing out that progress has been made in the allocation of state funds for political advertising.
The European Commission has been issuing annual reports on the rule of law, justice and media freedom across the EU since 2020. This year, Hungary has faced severe criticism for failing to act on recommendations from 2023, while Slovakia is urged to intensify reforms related to judicial independence, anti-corruption measures and media freedom.
The 2024 European report coincides with a domestic study commissioned by Justice Minister Alma Zadic, which reveals significant shortcomings within Austria’s judicial system.
The 234-page document, released this week, criticises the judiciary’s relations with the media and the system’s lack of transparency, noting that informal communication and vague instructions remain a problem.