Text · Opinion parliamentary committee draft
On the situation of international law and the risks to multilateralism, democracy and the European Union
Document DEVE-PA-791905 · 2026/2037(INI)
- Kind
- Opinion parliamentary committee draft DEVE-PA-791905
- Date
- 11 September 2026
- Committee
- Committee on Development
- Rapporteur
- Cecilia Strada
- Dossier
- 2026-2037
More facts (3)
- Formats
- Official page PDF Word
- Subject matter
- PESC
- Reference
- 2026/2037(INI)
Text
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Back matter, 2
Parts that accompany the text rather than belong to it: explanatory statement, annexes, opinions appended by other committees. Collapsed.
Amendments 136 blocks
The Committee on Development submits the following to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, as the committee responsible :
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 2730 (2024) of 24 May 2024 on protection of humanitarian personnel and UN and associated personnel in armed conflict, |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 2417 (2018) of 24 May 2018 on conflict-induced food insecurity, |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women, peace and security, |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
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| – having regard to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols thereto, |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
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| – having regard to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, adopted on 10 October 1980, and to Protocols I, II and III thereto, |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (Ottawa Convention), adopted on 18 September 1997, |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (Oslo Convention), adopted on 30 May 2008, |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to its resolution of 20 January 2026 on humanitarian aid in a time of polycrisis – reaffirming our principles for a more effective and ambitious response to humanitarian crises [1a], | |
| 1a OJ C, C/2026/3684, 5.8.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2026/3684/oj. |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 27 May 2026 entitled ‘Defending values, driving reform, delivering impact: the EU’s humanitarian action in a shifting global order’ (JOIN(2026)0025) (joint communication on humanitarian aid), |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to its resolution of 9 July 2026 on the joint communication on humanitarian aid (JOIN(2026)0025)1a, | |
| 1a Texts adopted, P10_TA(2026)0271. |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| C. whereas the multilateral system is increasingly being tested by geopolitical rivalry, Russian aggression against Ukraine, the gradual disengagement of the United States from international organisations, and the growing influence of China and other regional powers, requiring the EU to strengthen its leadership role in support of international law and effective multilateralism; | C. whereas the multilateral system is increasingly being tested by geopolitical rivalry and blatant disregard for international law – such as the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the US military intervention in Venezuela, the US-Israel intervention against Iran, the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Syrian Golan Heights and southern Lebanon, and the proxy wars in Yemen and Sudan – and by the gradual disengagement of the United States from international organisations, and the growing influence of China and other regional powers, requiring the EU to strengthen its leadership role in support of international law and effective multilateralism; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Ca. whereas severe violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law are on the rise, including deliberate attacks against civilians, including journalists[1a], the destruction of essential infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and water and energy infrastructure, forced displacement and disappearances, the deliberate use of starvation as a method of warfare, and sexual and gender-based violence; whereas the erosion of respect for IHL and international human rights law has disproportionate consequences for women, girls and children; whereas information manipulation, including disinformation, is further eroding respect for IHL and perceptions of humanitarian action; | |
| 1a Committee to Protect Journalists: Data management system consulted in September 2026. https://cpj.org/data/killed/2026/. |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Cb. whereas the surge in violence and other major security incidents affecting humanitarian and medical staff is particularly alarming, as they are essential for delivering principled aid; whereas 350 humanitarian workers were killed in 2025, the second-highest toll ever recorded, following the sad record figure of 380 killed in 2024; whereas state actors are now the predominant perpetrators of violence against aid workers[1a]; | |
| 1a Humanitarian Outcomes, ‘Aid Worker Security Report 2026 – When the threat is the state: Detentions of humanitarian workers’, 2026, https://www.humanitarianoutcomes.org/AWSR_2026. |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Cc. whereas access constraints, including bureaucratic impediments, restrictions on movement and interference by parties to conflicts, are increasingly limiting the ability of humanitarian actors to reach affected populations; whereas the denial of access to life-saving humanitarian aid constitutes a war crime; whereas humanitarian aid should never be instrumentalised and should reach civilians in need without obstruction, discrimination or manipulation, in full compliance with IHL; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| E. whereas the EU must strengthen its capacity to defend its interests and values while developing partnerships based on mutual respect, reciprocity and dialogue; | E. whereas the EU must strengthen its capacity to defend its interests and values while developing partnerships based on respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law and on mutual respect, reciprocity and dialogue; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. Stresses that the EU’s credibility as a global actor rests on its consistent defence of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, self-determination and human rights; stresses that international law must be upheld impartially and consistently in all circumstances; calls for the EU to pursue its external action with greater coherence, humility and respect, while promoting its values through dialogue, partnership and example; | 1. Stresses that the EU’s credibility as a global actor rests on its consistent defence of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, self-determination and human rights; stresses that international law must be upheld impartially and consistently in all circumstances; calls for the EU to pursue its external action with greater coherence, humility and respect, while promoting its values through dialogue and partnership and, leading by example; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. Invites the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) to strengthen support for international courts, in particular the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, as essential pillars of the rules-based international order; condemns all forms of pressure and coercive measures against these institutions and calls on the Commission to activate the Blocking Statute to protect the International Criminal Court from unlawful extraterritorial sanctions; | 2. Invites the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) to strengthen support for international courts, in particular the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, as essential pillars of the rules-based international order; condemns all forms of pressure and coercive measures against these institutions and calls on the Commission to activate, without further delay, the Blocking Statute to protect the International Criminal Court from unlawful extraterritorial sanctions; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2a. Deeply regrets the erosion of IHL and international human rights law through selective application, permissive interpretation and blatant violations, which exacerbate civilian suffering and aggravate the culture of impunity; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2b. Calls on the Commission, the VP/HR and the Council to unequivocally condemn any violation of international law, including IHL and international human rights law during armed conflicts; recalls in particular that customary IHL is binding on all parties to armed conflict, regardless of technological advances in warfare; underlines that accountability for violations of IHL must be ensured at all times, including through support for independent accountability mechanisms and cooperation with international investigative bodies; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2c. Condemns, in this context, the systematic increase in attacks on and the killing of both civilians and humanitarian workers, including UN personnel, which are serious breaches of international law; urges therefore the Commission and the Member States to take all necessary measures against states, entities or individuals responsible for violations of international law and IHL; calls for the EU to undertake determined action to defend and enhance IHL and a principled humanitarian space by increasing the effectiveness of its humanitarian diplomacy, leveraging the humanitarian, political, economic, security or diplomatic instruments at its disposal; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2d. Calls for the EU to uphold the commitments made in the joint communication on humanitarian aid with regard to strengthening the protection and security of humanitarian workers and improving care for victims and survivors of attacks; in this regard, urges the Commission to make ‘Protect Aid Workers’ a permanent, global programme with adequate funding; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3. Invites the VP/HR, the Council and the Member States to support the reform of the UN, including the Security Council, in line with the UN80 Initiative; stresses that a more representative UN – one that ensures a stronger voice for countries in the Global South – is essential for strengthening the legitimacy, credibility and effectiveness of the multilateral system; | 3. Invites the VP/HR, the Council and the Member States to support the reform of the UN, including the Security Council, in line with the UN80 Initiative; stresses that a more representative UN – one that ensures a stronger voice for countries in the Global South – is essential for strengthening the legitimacy, credibility and effectiveness of the multilateral system; considers the UN Humanitarian Reset to be a unique opportunity to protect principled humanitarian action, enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the multilateral humanitarian system, and shift power and resources to local actors and crisis-affected populations; encourages the EU to support these reform efforts actively and to coordinate closely with UN partners to ensure that they deliver tangible results to populations in need; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 5. Invites the Commission and the VP/HR to deepen partnerships with countries in the Global South based on mutual respect, equal partnership and shared ownership; stresses that countries in the Global South are essential partners in global governance; calls for enhanced cooperation in areas of common interest, including food security, sustainable infrastructure, clean energy, global health, artificial intelligence and sustainable finance; | 5. Invites the Commission and the VP/HR to deepen partnerships with countries in the Global South based on mutual respect, equal partnership and shared ownership; stresses that countries in the Global South are essential partners in global governance; calls for enhanced cooperation in areas of common interest, including food security, human development, sustainable infrastructure, clean energy, global health, artificial intelligence and sustainable finance; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 6. Invites the Commission, the VP/HR and the Member States to strengthen EU development cooperation as a strategic instrument for effective multilateralism and international partnerships; calls for development cooperation to be guided by measurable results, local needs and greater coherence between the policies of the EU and the Member States; calls for simplified funding procedures in order to improve the effectiveness, visibility and responsiveness of EU action; | 6. Recalls that the main objective of EU development cooperation policy is the reduction and, in the long term, the eradication of poverty; invites therefore the Commission, the VP/HR and the Member States to uphold this objective by strengthening EU development cooperation as a strategic instrument for effective multilateralism and international partnerships; calls for development cooperation to be guided by measurable results, local needs, support for civil society and greater coherence between the internal and external policies of the EU and the Member States; calls for an ambitious increase in the financial envelope for Global Europe, and in particular for development policy, in the next multiannual financial framework, with a particular focus on clear, measurable targets and simplified funding procedures in order to improve the effectiveness, visibility and responsiveness of EU action, while striking a fair balance between flexibility and predictability and maintaining strategic support for civil society organisations; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 6a. Acknowledges that the development and implementation of international disarmament treaties has played a key role in shaping effective multilateralism and maintaining international peace and security; recognises that the EU has been a strong supporter of the universalisation of such treaties, which constitute the most successful example of how multilateralism delivers effective solutions to support sustainable peace and development, while reducing humanitarian risks and threats to societies and civilians; recalls that international law prohibits or restricts the use of certain weapons due to their indiscriminate or inhumane nature and considers that unregulated proliferation hampers IHL compliance and humanitarian aid delivery; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 6b. Regrets, therefore, the decision of some EU Member States to withdraw from such treaties, notably the 1997 Ottawa Convention and the 2008 Oslo Convention, which prohibit the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions; is of the view that, despite the challenging geopolitical situation and legitimate security concerns, the deployment, trade and use of such lethal weapons cannot be justified, considering the devastating humanitarian consequences for the civilian population during and long after conflict, especially for minors; calls on the Commission and the Council to request that Member States abide by their obligations under international and EU law, most notably Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/7811a; | |
| 1a Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/781 of 14 April 2025 in support of the Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan for the implementation of the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (OJ L, 2025/781, 15.4.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/781/oj). |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 13. Calls for the EU and the Member States to accelerate the establishment of a genuine European Defence Union in recognition of the fact that effective multilateralism and the defence of international law require credible diplomatic, economic and defence capabilities; stresses that the aim of a strengthened European defence is to protect the EU, its citizens and its democratic institutions, to consolidate its strategic autonomy and to strengthen its capacity to contribute to international peace and security, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations; | 13. Calls for the EU and the Member States to accelerate the establishment of a genuine European Defence Union in recognition of the fact that effective multilateralism and the defence of international law require credible diplomatic, economic and defence capabilities; stresses that the aim of a strengthened European defence is to protect the EU, its citizens and its democratic institutions, to consolidate its strategic autonomy and to strengthen its capacity to contribute to international peace and security, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of customary international law; |
Annex: declaration of input 4 blocks
Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that she included in her opinion input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that she received, in the preparation of the draft opinion, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register1, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:
| 1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register |
| Mine Advisory |
| Association Federation Handicap International |
| Concord |
| Norwegian Refugee Council |
| Danish Refugee Council |
| Voluntary Organisations in Cooperation in Emergencies (VOICE) |
| International Rescue Committee |
| Protect Humanitarians |
| Care International |
| Save the Children |
| 2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies |
| None |
Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that she has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.
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- Data source
- Licensed CC BY 4.0.
- Retrieved
- 25 September 2026
Cite as
European Parliament (2026). “DRAFT OPINION on the situation of international law and the risks to multilateralism, democracy and the European Union”. Text, 11 September 2026. docId DEVE-PA-791905. EU Parl Watch Research. https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/DEVE-PA-791905 (retrieved 25 September 2026). Data: EP Open Data API: document record, https://data.europarl.europa.eu/api/v2/documents/DEVE-PA-791905 (CC BY 4.0).
BibTeX
@misc{epw-text-deve-pa-791905,
author = {{European Parliament}},
title = {{DRAFT OPINION on the situation of international law and the risks to multilateralism, democracy and the European Union}},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-09-11},
howpublished = {\url{https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/DEVE-PA-791905}},
url = {https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/DEVE-PA-791905},
urldate = {2026-09-25},
publisher = {EU Parl Watch Research},
note = {Text. docId DEVE-PA-791905. Data: EP Open Data API: document record (CC BY 4.0)}
}