The judiciary in the Netherlands scores highly in terms of independence. The efforts to improve the quality of the judiciary also stand out. This emerges from the second Rule of Law report by the European Commission (EC).
This provides greater insight into the rule of law within EU member states and makes visible what is and isn’t going well. Member states are thus encouraged to address rule of law issues. The report looks at new developments since last September, delves deeper into problems identified in the previous report, and considers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This includes attention to anti-corruption policies, media, and the judiciary. Nearly all European member states are implementing reforms in their legal systems, according to the research. However, there are major differences in scale, form, and progress.
Positive developments show that some EU countries are willing to address rule of law issues within their own borders. The impact of the corona crisis is clearly visible, according to the European Commission, emphasizing the urgency to modernize legal systems, for example through digitalization.
However, some member states, such as Poland and Hungary, have continued to implement reforms that undermine the independence of the judiciary. This happens, among other things, through granting greater influence to the executive and legislative branches over the functioning of the judiciary.
The European Commission notes that the Dutch legal system is still characterized by a very high level of independence and efforts to promote the quality of the judiciary. The Commission cites changes to the appointment procedure for judges at the Supreme Court and the entry into force of the Experiments Act.
As in the previous year, the Commission notes that there remains room for improvement in the digitalization of the judiciary, particularly in publishing rulings and providing digital solutions to initiate and track procedures.