Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

▸6 unchanged paragraphs

on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025

(2025/2166(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,

– having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights,

– having regard to Articles 2, 3, 8, 21, 23 and 36 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU),

Changed– having regard to Articles 17 and 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,Union (TFEU),

– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant United Nations human rights treaties and instruments,

Added– having regard to the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, adopted on 9 December 1948,

Added– having regard to the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, adopted on 12 August 1949,

Added– having regard to the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of 10 December 1984 and the Optional Protocol thereto, adopted on 18 December 2002,

Added– having regard to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 September 2007,

Added– having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of 12 December 2006 and the Optional Protocol thereto, adopted on 13 December 2006,

Added– having regard to the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, proclaimed by UN General Assembly Resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981,

Added– having regard to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities of 18 December 1992,

Added– having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child of 20 November 1989 and the two Optional Protocols thereto, adopted on 25 May 2000,

Added– having regard to Protocols Nos 6 and 13 to the Council of Europe Convention of 28 April 1983 for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the Abolition of the Death Penalty,

Added– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

– having regard to the Council conclusions of 27 January 2025 on EU Priorities in UN Human Rights Fora in 2025,

– having regard to the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024, adopted by the Council on 17 November 2020, and its mid-term review adopted on 9 June 2023,

Added– having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 of 7 December 2020 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses,

Added– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/947 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 June 2021 establishing the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe, amending and repealing Decision No 466/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EU) 2017/1601 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 480/2009,

Added– having regard to the EU strategy on the rights of the child (COM(2021)0142),

Added– having regard to the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief,

Added– having regard to the EU Guidelines on freedom of expression online and offline, adopted by the Council on 12 May 2014,

Added– having regard to the revised EU Guidelines on EU policy towards third countries on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, adopted by the Council on 16 September 2019,

Added– having regard to the revised EU Guidelines on children and armed conflict, approved by the Council on 24 June 2024,

Added– having regard to the joint proposal from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 3 May 2023 for a Council regulation on restrictive measures against serious acts of corruption (JOIN(2023)0013),

Added– having regard to the EU Guidelines on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law,

Added– having regard to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court of 17 July 1998,

Added– having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2019 on EU Guidelines and the mandate of the EU Special Envoy on the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU,

Added– having regard to its resolution of 8 July 2021 on the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (EU Magnitsky Act),

▸4 unchanged paragraphs

– having regard to the Council conclusions of 27 May 2024 on the alignment of the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 with the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027,

– having regard to the EU Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in External Action 2021-2025 (GAP III),

– having regard to the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the Council on 14 June 2004,

– having regard to the 2024 EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World,

Changed– having regard to its Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, which in 2025 was awarded to Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut and Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli,

▸4 unchanged paragraphs

– having regard to its resolution of 2 April 2025 on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2024, and to its previous resolutions on earlier annual reports,

– having regard to its resolutions on breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (known as urgency resolutions), adopted in accordance with Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure, in particular those adopted in 2025,

– having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality,

Changed– having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A100000/2025),(A10-0262/2025),

Change 1

ChangedA. whereas the EU is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, as set out in ArticleArticles 2 and 21 TEU; whereas the EU’s action worldwide must be guided by the universality and indivisibility of human rights,rights asand setby outthe infact Articlethat 21the TEU;effective protection and defence of human rights and democracy is at the core of the EU’s external action;

Change 2

ChangedB. whereas consistency and coherence across the EU’s internal and external policies are key forto achieving an effective and credible EU human rights policy;policy and in defending and supporting freedom and democracy;

Change 3

ChangedC. whereas democratic systems are the most suitable to guarantee that every personeverybody has the ability to enjoy their human rights and fundamental rights; whereas a world of democracies, understood as mature democratic systems, is an altogether safer world, given their significant checks and balances to prevent the unpredictable behaviour of autocracies on the international stage; whereas today, only 29 % of the world’s population lives in liberal democracies, which is a sharp decrease compared to 52 % in 2009; whereas the rise in authoritarianism, illiberalism and populism threatens the global rules-based order, the protection and promotion of human rights in the world, and the values and principles on which the EU is founded; whereas terrorism and extremism are also on the rise and also threaten these values and principles;

Change 4

RemovedD. whereas the legitimacy of the international rules-based order, which the EU strongly supports, is dependent on compliance with the orders of international bodies, such as the UN Security Council resolutions and orders and decisions issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC); whereas there are increasing and unprecedented global threats to compliance with such orders and decisions, as well as, generally, with international law, human rights law and international humanitarian law in emerging and ongoing conflict situations;

AddedD. whereas the EU strongly believes in and fully supports multilateralism, a rules-based global order and the set of universal values, principles and norms that guide the UN member states and that the UN member states have pledged to uphold, in accordance with the UN Charter;

RemovedE. whereas the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 was extended to 2027 and work should start on drafting an improved plan for 2028-2034, alongside the new multiannual financial framework (MFF), to address the new challenges that the world is facing;

AddedE. whereas the global backlash against gender-equality and fundamental rights, including women’s rights, and the rise in anti-LGBTIQ+ rhetoric, undermines the rights of the most vulnerable people;

RemovedF. whereas human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) are crucial partners in the EU’s efforts to safeguard and advance human rights, democracy and the rule of law; whereas governments around the world are increasingly censoring, silencing and harassing HRDs and CSOs in their work;

AddedF. whereas the misuse of digital surveillance and artificial intelligence technologies increasingly threatens privacy, freedom of expression, and human rights defenders;

RemovedGrowing threats to human rights and democracy

AddedG. whereas the legitimacy of the international rules-based order, which the EU strongly supports and seeks to safeguard, is dependent on compliance with the orders of international bodies, such as the UN Security Council resolutions and orders and decisions issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC); whereas there are increasing and unprecedented global threats to compliance with such orders and decisions, as well as, generally, with international law, human rights law and international humanitarian law in emerging and ongoing conflicts; whereas authoritarian and illiberal regimes distort the use of multilateral forums to advance a reactionary agenda that challenges human rights and the multilateral and rules-based order; whereas discrediting and attacking multilateral organisations has serious consequences, such as fostering a culture of impunity; whereas international institutions, their officials and those cooperating with them have increasingly been subjected to attacks and threats; whereas the international community, including the EU, bears responsibility for upholding the rules-based international order by ensuring universal compliance, including by its partners;

Removed1. Reasserts its positions expressed in its 2024 annual report adopted on 2 April 2025 regarding individual human rights and fundamental freedoms, based on the EU values and principles that guide Union action on the international stage under Article 21 TEU; reiterates, in particular, its conclusions regarding the rights of women, children, migrants and refugees, religious and ethnic minorities, and all those who continue to be affected by human rights abuses in particularly insidious ways due to their race, ethnicity, religion, caste, gender, sexuality, disability or socio-economic status;

AddedH. whereas massive cuts in international funding for human rights, democracy support, and the independent media have turned the EU into one of the last major global actors in this domain;

AddedI. whereas the UN is facing a seriously concerning and dire financial situation, with a cut in staffing of 20 % and its general budget facing a USD 500 million cut, together with further significant cuts to its peacekeeping, humanitarian and health agencies following withdrawal of international financial support;

AddedJ. whereas the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 was extended to 2027 and work should start on drafting an improved plan for 2028-2034, alongside the new multiannual financial framework (MFF), to address the new challenges that the world is facing; whereas the proposed new MFF’s revised structure lacks a dedicated programme and specific budgetary earmarking for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, raising concerns about underfunding, lack of predictability, and erosion of thematic priorities;

AddedK. whereas human rights defenders (HRDs), including women’s rights defenders, and civil society organisations (CSOs) are crucial partners in the EU’s efforts to safeguard and advance human rights, democracy and the rule of law; whereas governments and non-state actors around the world are shrinking the civil space further by increasingly censoring, silencing and harassing HRDs, and CSOs, journalists, religious communities, opposition leaders and other vulnerable groups, among others, in their work, shrinking the civil space even further;

AddedL. whereas governments around the world are increasingly censoring, silencing and harassing HRDs and CSOs in their work; whereas this behaviour includes measures encompassing strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), restrictive government policies, defamation campaigns, discrimination, intimidation and violence, including extrajudicial killings, abductions, and arbitrary arrests and detention; whereas attacks on HRDs are increasingly extending to their families and communities;