The European Commission publishes annually its report on the Rule of Law in Member States. This report monitors the justice situation in each country and identifies areas that need improvement. The document serves as an alert and monitoring instrument for national governments.
For several years, the European report has insisted on the need to strengthen human resources and improve the efficiency of Portuguese justice. The Commission expressly highlights the role of justice officials as a fundamental element for the functioning of the judicial system. These recommendations have been reiterated consistently in the annual assessments.
The 2026 report, released in July, presents an updated view of the situation in Portugal. The document notes a worsening of delays and backlogs in administrative and tax courts, indicating that this specific area of the judicial system faces growing efficiency and productivity problems.
In addition to the backlog problems, the report also identifies other difficulties in the Portuguese judicial system. It mentions the degradation of court facilities and issues related to security. These problems contribute to a picture of structural challenges that affect the proper functioning of justice in the country.
