MEPs warn of increasing repression of human rights activists across borders

The EU must respond to the growing number of attacks, particularly on EU soil

10 regimes account for nearly 80 % of all transnational repression cases, which include targeted killings, abductions and harassment

EU sanctions and a ban on exports of spyware and dual-use goods to countries engaging in transnational repression are necessary responses

On Thursday, Parliament urged the EU to tackle actions by authoritarian regimes to coerce, control or silence political opponents and other critical voices abroad.

Human rights defenders are a key pillar of democracy and the rule of law, and they are insufficiently protected, say MEPs in the own-initiative report adopted by 512 votes to 76, and with 52 abstentions.

According to MEPs, 80% of cases of transnational repression are the responsibility of 10 countries, including China, Türkiye, Tajikistan, Russia, Egypt, Cambodia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus. The text highlights that more than 1,200 direct physical incidents have been recorded, in 103 countries, over the past decade.

From targeted killings to misuse of Interpol and digital surveillance

This is the first time that a detailed definition of transnational repression has been adopted by Parliament. For MEPs, these are “attacks and threats perpetrated by states, authoritarian regimes and their proxies, which aim to defend and promote their interests across national borders to coerce, control or silence dissidents, political opponents, journalists, activists, human rights defenders and members of the diaspora.” The report details a wide range of physical methods: targeted killings, abductions, violence, harassment and forced returns, disappearances and expulsions.

The misuse of legal instruments is also part of the arsenal of threats against rights defenders: either through consular services, extradition procedures, arrests or abusive use of Interpol’s ‘red notices’, and accusations of terrorism or undermining state security. Finally, MEPs denounce non-physical methods, such as digital surveillance, intimidation, blackmail and threats against the families of human rights defenders.

Need for coordinated EU action

New technologies, in particular artificial intelligence, malicious data communication and spyware, are increasingly important vectors of current transnational repression, say MEPs. They call on member states and the EU to recognise, prevent and tackle digital forms of transnational repression, including disinformation campaigns targeting human rights defenders, and to ensure that private actors in the technology sector are held accountable, by publishing transparency reports, and setting up effective grievance mechanisms.

On EU agreements with third countries, MEPs want transnational repression to be dealt with systematically, introducing human rights clause monitoring. Strict market surveillance is needed, they add, and the export of spyware and dual-use goods to authoritarian regimes found guilty of transnational repression must be prohibited.

They also call on the EU to hold states and perpetrators of transnational repression accountable through targeted sanctions and the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (EU Magnitsky Act).

Quote

Rapporteur Chloé Ridel (S&D, France) said: "Physical threats, poisoning, spyware, online harassment, passport cancellation... authoritarian regimes are tracking their opponents far beyond their borders and increasingly on European soil. So far, we have let it happen. It is time to put an end to it. Europe must remain a safe haven for those fighting for freedom and democracy.”

Background

Parliament actively supports international efforts to promote democracy and human rights worldwide. Every year MEPs award the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to those who have fought for human rights. In 2025, the Sakharov Prize was awarded to journalists imprisoned in Belarus and Georgia, Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli.