Rule of Law Forum 2026

Civil Society Ecosystems for the Rule of Law: Regional Tools and Practices.”

15 Octombrie, 2026

On 20–21 October 2026, Bucharest will host the second edition of the Rule of Law Forum, a platform bringing together European and national institutions, legal professionals, academia and civil society to discuss current challenges to the rule of law and, most importantly, the solutions and mechanisms available to address them.

EEA Civil Society Fund Romania supports the Rule of Law Forum because the rule of law, the protection of fundamental rights and an open and resilient civic space are essential conditions for a functioning democracy.

And we are directly contributing to this conversation.

On 21 October, from 09:30 to 11:30, at Casa Europa, we will organise the panel “Civil Society Ecosystems for the Rule of Law: Regional Tools and Practices.”

Participants:

Simona Constantinescu – Head of Development and Advocacy, Civil Society Development Foundation, Romania
Maciej Nowicki – President of the Board, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Poland) & Chair of the Board, European Implementation Network (EIN)
Márta Pardavi – Co-chair, Hungarian Helsinki Committee & Co-Leader, Recharging Advocacy for Rights in Europe (RARE) programme
Goran Forbici – Director, CNVOS – Centre for Information, Cooperation and Development of NGOs, Slovenia
Iain Cameron – Member of the Venice Commission & Professor of Public International Law, Uppsala University
Diane Angermueller – Policy Officer, European Commission, DG Justice and Consumers, Rule of Law

Moderator:

Luca Ciubotaru – Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest

We will bring Romania’s experience into dialogue with those of Poland, Hungary and Slovenia, exploring what works, what we can learn from one another, and which concrete tools can help protect civic space and strengthen cooperation between civil society and public institutions.

This is one of the key priorities of the EEA Civil Society Fund Romania: not only to support civil society organisations, but also to help build an environment in which they can operate freely, independently and effectively.

Rule of Law Forum, Bucharest

📅 20–21 October 2026

Full programme and registration

The Rule of Law Forum is an annual event dedicated to fostering informed and structured dialogue on the practical application of European rule of law standards.

Launched in 2025, the Forum was established in response to the need for a dedicated, neutral space where the findings and recommendations of the European Commission’s Rule of Law Report could be discussed among all relevant stakeholders.

In 2026, the Forum broadens this approach by also bringing into the discussion the standards developed by the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission. In doing so, it creates a bridge between European standards and their practical implications for judicial independence, the democratic functioning of institutions, the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, and the role of civil society in maintaining democratic checks and balances.

One of the Forum’s distinctive features is the diversity of its participants. It brings together representatives of European and national institutions, constitutional and European courts, judges and other legal professionals, academics, public authorities and civil society organisations.

Through high-level plenary sessions, expert panels and specialised roundtables, the Forum seeks to translate case law, institutional standards and policy recommendations into practical dialogue, comparative analysis and the identification of possible solutions.

The emphasis is not only on identifying rule of law challenges, but also on the effective implementation of European standards, institutional accountability and the identification of concrete opportunities for action and cooperation.