Dossier · Own-initiative report

Human Rights and Democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025

Reference: 2025/2166(INI) Own-initiative report
Where it stands: Parliament adopted the text on 21 January 2026. This is its final position on the matter.
Stage: Parliament’s position
Lead committee: Foreign Affairs AFET

More facts (6)

Author: Francisco ASSIS
Shadow rapporteurs: 5 members
Decisions in plenary: 1
Last vote: 21 Jan 2026 · Adopted
Versions: 3 versions
Opinions from: FEMM

Author: Francisco ASSIS
Shadow rapporteurs: 5 members
Decisions in plenary: 1
Last vote: 21 Jan 2026 · Adopted
Versions: 3 versions
Opinions from: FEMM

Cite this page

Legislative Observatory

Link to this page

Where it stands

The steps of this kind of dossier and how far it has come, from the procedure file.

Referred to committee (done) 11 September 2025
Committee work (done) Report adopted 2 December 2025
Tabled for plenary (done) 8 January 2026
Plenary vote (done) Adopted 21 January 2026
Parliament’s position (done) Final

Parliament sets out its own position on a topic. The resolution is not binding but signals what Parliament wants.

People

Committees and members responsible for the dossier, as the procedure file names them. Groups as recorded there.

Lead committee: Foreign Affairs AFET
Author: Francisco ASSIS (S&D)
Shadow rapporteurs: Isabel WISELER-LIMA (EPP), Bernard GUETTA (Renew), Rima HASSAN (The Left), Catarina VIEIRA (Greens), Tomasz FROELICH (ESN)
Opinion: FEMM: Women’s Rights and Gender Equality · rapporteur Lina GÁLVEZ (S&D)

Decisions in plenary, 1

Every decision Parliament took on this dossier, newest first.

**Effect**: what the decision did. **Final vote**: for–against–abstained, and how it was recorded.
Date	Decision	Kind	Effect	Final vote
21 Jan 2026	Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025	Resolutions	Adopted	421 for, 120 against, 108 abstained by roll call

Voting grid

Export

Every roll-call vote on the dossier, in date and voting order, with each group's line at the date of the vote.

Each group's clear line at the date of the vote: a position with at least two thirds of the group's votes (at least 10 members voting), otherwise Divided; “< 10 voted” when fewer took part. Result: outcome, for–against–abstained (method).

Voting grid of 2025/2166(INI): one row per roll call, one column per group, then the result.
Vote	The Left	Greens	S&D	Renew	EPP	ECR	Patriots	ESN	Result
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 15, adding text after paragraph 53	Against	Against	Against	Against	Against	Divided	For	For	Rejected164–470–28
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 6, adding text after paragraph 56	Against	Against	Against	Against	Against	Divided	For	For	Rejected177–415–61
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 44 to paragraph 57	For	Against	Against	Against	Against	Against	Divided	Against	Rejected86–515–53
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 45, adding text after paragraph 57	For	Abst.	Against	Against	Against	Against	Against	Against	Rejected104–487–63
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 7 to paragraph 60	Against	Against	Against	Against	Against	For	For	For	Rejected197–438–13
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 8 to paragraph 66	Against	Against	Against	Against	Against	For	For	For	Rejected227–414–9
21 Jan 2026 Paragraph 66 — part 2	Divided	For	For	For	For	Against	Against	Against	Adopted367–256–25
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 16 to paragraph 78	Against	Against	Against	Against	Against	For	For	For	Rejected184–451–22
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 32, adding text after paragraph 81	Against	Against	Against	Against	For	For	For	For	Adopted360–283–11
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 46, adding text after paragraph 83	For	Abst.	Against	Against	Against	Against	Against	Divided	Rejected90–495–61
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 48, adding text after paragraph 83	For	Abst.	Against	Against	Against	Against	Against	Divided	Rejected94–489–60
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 1, adding text after recital M	Against	Against	Against	Against	Divided	For	For	For	Rejected244–384–28
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 2, adding text after recital M	Against	Against	Against	Against	Against	For	For	For	Rejected240–384–7
21 Jan 2026 Recital O — part 2	For	For	For	For	For	Divided	Divided	Against	Adopted492–105–48
21 Jan 2026 Final vote — text as a whole	Divided	For	For	For	For	Abst.	Against	Against	Adopted421–120–108

21 Jan 2026 Amendment 15, adding text after paragraph 53

Rejected 164–470–28

The Left

Against
Greens

Against
S&D

Against
Renew

Against
EPP

Against
ECR

Divided
Patriots

For
ESN

For
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 6, adding text after paragraph 56

Rejected 177–415–61

The Left

Against
Greens

Against
S&D

Against
Renew

Against
EPP

Against
ECR

Divided
Patriots

For
ESN

For
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 44 to paragraph 57

Rejected 86–515–53

The Left

For
Greens

Against
S&D

Against
Renew

Against
EPP

Against
ECR

Against
Patriots

Divided
ESN

Against
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 45, adding text after paragraph 57

Rejected 104–487–63

The Left

For
Greens

Abst.
S&D

Against
Renew

Against
EPP

Against
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 7 to paragraph 60

Rejected 197–438–13

The Left

Against
Greens

Against
S&D

Against
Renew

Against
EPP

Against
ECR

For
Patriots

For
ESN

For
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 8 to paragraph 66

Rejected 227–414–9

The Left

Against
Greens

Against
S&D

Against
Renew

Against
EPP

Against
ECR

For
Patriots

For
ESN

For
21 Jan 2026 Paragraph 66 — part 2

Adopted 367–256–25

The Left

Divided
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 16 to paragraph 78

Rejected 184–451–22

The Left

Against
Greens

Against
S&D

Against
Renew

Against
EPP

Against
ECR

For
Patriots

For
ESN

For
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 32, adding text after paragraph 81

Adopted 360–283–11

The Left

Against
Greens

Against
S&D

Against
Renew

Against
EPP

For
ECR

For
Patriots

For
ESN

For
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 46, adding text after paragraph 83

Rejected 90–495–61

The Left

For
Greens

Abst.
S&D

Against
Renew

Against
EPP

Against
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Divided
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 48, adding text after paragraph 83

Rejected 94–489–60

The Left

For
Greens

Abst.
S&D

Against
Renew

Against
EPP

Against
ECR

Against
Patriots

Against
ESN

Divided
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 1, adding text after recital M

Rejected 244–384–28

The Left

Against
Greens

Against
S&D

Against
Renew

Against
EPP

Divided
ECR

For
Patriots

For
ESN

For
21 Jan 2026 Amendment 2, adding text after recital M

Rejected 240–384–7

The Left

Against
Greens

Against
S&D

Against
Renew

Against
EPP

Against
ECR

For
Patriots

For
ESN

For
21 Jan 2026 Recital O — part 2

Adopted 492–105–48

The Left

For
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Divided
Patriots

Divided
ESN

Against
21 Jan 2026 Final vote — text as a whole

Adopted 421–120–108

The Left

Divided
Greens

For
S&D

For
Renew

For
EPP

For
ECR

Abst.
Patriots

Against
ESN

Against

Show all 34 votes (the final votes and the latest other votes are shown: 15)

Add members’ columns

Versions, 3

The text of the dossier, version by version, newest first. Compare shows what changed between two consecutive versions.

Adopted by Parliament21 Jan 2026

Adopted text TA10-0014/2026 TA-10-2026-0014

Compare with tabled for plenary
Tabled for plenary8 Jan 2026

Report A10-0262/2025 A-10-2025-0262

Compare with committee draft
Committee draft9 Sept 2025

Draft report (AFET) AFET-PR-776918

Each version in short Written by AI from the official text — check the source

Adopted text TA10-0014/2026: This resolution on the EU's annual human rights report condemns global democratic backsliding and human rights abuses, and calls for stronger EU action to defend human rights, democracy, and multilateralism worldwide.
Report A10-0262/2025: This resolution on human rights and democracy in the world and the EU's policy on the matter assesses global challenges and the EU's toolbox, and makes recommendations for action.
Draft report (AFET): This draft report on human rights and democracy in the world and the EU's policy on the matter for 2025 notes the global deterioration of human rights and democratic backsliding, and assesses the EU's toolbox for promoting human rights.

Report a problem

Committee opinions: Opinion (FEMM), Draft opinion (FEMM)

What changed, 2

Between consecutive versions, newest pair first. The overviews are written by AI from the two texts; the comparison shows every change.

Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament Report A10-0262/2025 → Adopted text TA10-0014/2026

AI: What changed Written by AI from the official text — check the source

Adds provisions on Christian persecution in the Middle East and globally, including a call for a coordinator against Christianophobia. Adds paragraphs on protecting pregnant women's rights and combating sexual exploitation and prostitution. The other change is wording: renumbers a paragraph and removes a word.

Read the changes · Report a problem

Compare the two versions
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary Draft report (AFET) → Report A10-0262/2025

AI: What changed Written by AI from the official text — check the source

The report expands significantly, adding many new recitals and paragraphs on topics like funding cuts, UN financial crisis, gender equality, and digital surveillance. It strengthens language on multilateralism, international justice, and support for the ICC and UN, with new calls for EU unity and reform. It adds many new calls on specific human rights issues, including freedom of religion, corporate accountability, and protection of HRDs. The other changes are mostly wording and formal updates, such as rephrasing and adding references to Articles 2 and 21 TEU.

Read the changes · Report a problem

Compare the two versions

Timeline, 10

Every recorded step, newest first, grouped by stage; the latest stage is open.

Plenary stage 4 steps · 8 Jan 2026–21 Jan 2026

21 January 2026

Plenary vote

Sitting of 21 Jan 2026 Report A10-0262/2025 Adopted text TA10-0014/2026
20 January 2026

Debated in plenary

MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.

Sitting of 20 Jan 2026 Report A10-0262/2025
13 January – 14 January 2026

48 amendments tabled for the plenary vote

Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.

Amendments 1–8 Amendments 9–16 Amendments 17–26 Amendments 27–32 Amendments 33–42 Amendments 43–48
8 January 2026

Report tabled for plenary

This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.

Report A10-0262/2025

Committee stage 6 steps · 9 Sept 2025–2 Dec 2025

2 December 2025

Committee vote: report adopted

AFET (Foreign Affairs) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
5 November 2025

FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) adopted its opinion

The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

Opinion (FEMM)
8 October 2025

Amendments tabled in committee

Members of AFET (Foreign Affairs) proposed changes to the draft.

Amendments in committee (AFET)
17 September 2025

Draft opinion from FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality)

An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.

Draft opinion (FEMM)
11 September 2025

Referred to the AFET (Foreign Affairs) committee

The lead committee prepares the report; FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) gives an opinion.
9 September 2025

Draft report published

The rapporteur’s first text in AFET (Foreign Affairs). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.

Draft report (AFET)

Connections

Texts, decisions, people and other dossiers related to this one.

Sources & citation

Where the facts on this page come from, and how to cite it.

Permalink: https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/dossiers/2025-2166
Official source: Procedure file (Legislative Observatory, OEIL)
Data source: EP Open Data API: procedure record
Licensed CC BY 4.0.
Retrieved: 25 September 2026

Cite as

European Parliament (2026). “Human Rights and Democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025”. Dossier, 21 January 2026. procId 2025-2166, reference 2025/2166(INI). EU Parl Watch Research. https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/dossiers/2025-2166 (retrieved 25 September 2026). Official source: Procedure file (Legislative Observatory, OEIL), https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/en/procedure-file?reference=2025%2F2166(INI). Data: EP Open Data API: procedure record, https://data.europarl.europa.eu/api/v2/procedures/2025-2166 (CC BY 4.0).

BibTeX

@misc{epw-dossier-2025-2166,
  author = {{European Parliament}},
  title = {{Human Rights and Democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025}},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-01-21},
  howpublished = {\url{https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/dossiers/2025-2166}},
  url = {https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/dossiers/2025-2166},
  urldate = {2026-09-25},
  publisher = {EU Parl Watch Research},
  note = {Dossier. procId 2025-2166, reference 2025/2166(INI). Official source: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/en/procedure-file?reference=2025\%2F2166(INI). Data: EP Open Data API: procedure record (CC BY 4.0)}
}