February 1 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria ranks lowest among EU member states in the Rule of Law Index 2017-2018 of the World Justice Project, the annual survey of the non-governmental organisation shows.
The country ranks 55th among 113 countries worldwide, dropping from 53th place in the previous edition of the report.
The index relies on more than 110,000 household and 3,000 expert surveys to measure how the rule of law is experienced and perceived in practical, everyday situations by the general public worldwide.
Performance is measured using 44 indicators across eight primary rule of law factors - constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice.
Bulgaria performs particularly poor in constraints on government powers and corruption factors, according to the the Rule of Law Index 2017-2018 published on the website of the World Justice Project.
Slovenia, on the other hand, ranks highest among the countries of Southeast Europe (SEE) included in the index, at 26th place. The country performs very well in order and security, and fundamental rights factors.
Moldova is the worst performer in SEE in 78th position. Among the rule of law factors it scores lowest in absence of corruption and regulatory enforcement.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is the country which moved the most in the ranking compared to the previous edition, falling by six places to 56th due to low scores in constraints on government powers and corruption factors.
The World Justice Project, founded in 2006, is a US-based independent, multidisciplinary organization working to advance the rule of law worldwide.
SEE countries ranked in the 2017-2018 Rule of Law Index report:
|
Global Rank |
Rank change |
Rank among EU-member states |
Albania |
68 |
+4 |
- |
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
56 |
-6 |
- |
Bulgaria |
55 |
-2 |
24 |
Croatia |
35 |
+4 |
21 |
Macedonia |
57 |
-3 |
- |
Moldova |
78 |
-1 |
- |
Romania |
29 |
+3 |
19 |
Serbia |
76 |
-2 |
- |
Slovenia |
26 |
+1 |
18 |
Source: World Justice Project