Unprecedented decline in human rights worldwide: MEPs call on the EU to act

The EU must defend the rules-based international order and multilateralism

The tools at its disposal must be reviewed and adequately funded

The development of deepfakes using artificial intelligence and fake news pose threats to democracy

Parliament adopted its annual report on the state of human rights and democracy in the world on Wednesday, calling on the EU to make better use of its resources to defend them.

MEPs adopted by 421 votes in favour, 120 against and 108 abstentions the European Parliament’s annual report on human rights and democracy in the world and the EU’s role therein. The text describes an alarming picture of a deteriorating global situation, amid growing geopolitical tensions and unprecedented challenges to the rules-based multilateral order. It also calls on the EU to reconsider the tools it has at its disposal to defend them.

Attacks on democracy and human rights are on the rise, including through artificial intelligence (AI), digital surveillance and repression, MEPs say, stressing the impact of disinformation in manipulating public opinion, especially during elections, and the need to combat fake news. For MEPs, this includes the protection of journalists, support for independent media, human rights defenders and civil society organisations, which are under increasing physical, judicial or digital pressure and attacks, both in their own countries and abroad, as transnational repression was identified as an amplifying and deplorable phenomenon .

To ensure respect for international law, MEPs also call on the EU to continue its participation in international organisations and to lend its unconditional support to the international justice system, particularly the International Criminal Court, the sanctioning of which they denounce. They reiterate their call to the Commission to activate the EU blocking statute in that regard.

The text details the threats to rights in general as well as to those of specific groups, e.g. women’s rights. It denounces the violence to which they are subjected, particularly in conflicts zones, but also gender-based violence, a lack of access to education, the impact of stereotypical views on gender and the need to ensure sexual and reproductive rights, including safe and legal abortion. MEPs also reiterate their opposition to the death penalty, the need to continue the fight against torture and to advance the fight against corruption, as well as the need to protect freedom of expression and freedom of conscience.

Examine the tools available to the EU to support concrete measures

MEPs call for a revision of the current EU action plan on human rights and democracy, including benchmarks, indicators and timelines to assess EU action. According to the report, European tools must also receive specific, sufficient and predictable funding in the next multiannual financial framework, in particular under the ‘Global Europe’ instrument.

Full and effective enforcement of EU digital legislation - including the Digital Safety Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) and AI Act - and corporate due diligence legislation will necessarily contribute to the defence of democracy and human rights, according to the report. MEPs also support human rights conditionality clauses in EU trade agreements with third countries and the use of EU sanctions as a key political tool to uphold the rule of law, democracy and human rights.

In a separate vote on Wednesday, plenary also adopted a report on the fight against impunity and the EU Global Sanctions Regime (EU Magnitsky Act) by 440 votes in favour, 127 against and 59 abstentions.

Quote

Francisco Assis (S&D, PT), rapporteur of the 2025 annual report on human rights and democracy in the world and the EU’s policy on the matter, said: ‘"This year’s report focuses less on the state of human rights and democracy in the world and more on the measures the EU can advance to gain more leverage in a global order in disarray. It critically assesses the external policy tools already available and makes recommendations for strengthening, expanding, and improving them, with a view to contributing to the preparation of a new action plan for human rights and democracy post-2027".

Background

Every year, Parliament carries out an assessment of the situation of human rights and democracy in the world, as well as an analysis of EU policy on the matter. The 2025 annual report sets out Parliament’s recommendations to the other EU institutions and will feed into the new post-2027 action plan on human rights and democracy.