BETA


2021/2204(INI) The EU Guidelines of Human Rights Defenders

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AFET NEUMANN Hannah (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE) OCHOJSKA Janina (icon: EPP EPP), GLUCKSMANN Raphaël (icon: S&D S&D), CSEH Katalin (icon: Renew Renew), KANKO Assita (icon: ECR ECR), URBÁN CRESPO Miguel (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2023/03/16
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2023/03/16
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 400 votes to 43, with 86 abstentions, a resolution on EU guidelines on human rights defenders.

Parliament recalled that human rights defenders are key allies in the EU's efforts to protect and promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law and to prevent conflicts worldwide. It is therefore in the essential interest of the EU and its Member States to support and protect their activities.

Overall assessment of the EU's strategic framework

Members welcome the EU policy framework for human rights defenders, which has developed over the last 20 years around the guidelines adopted in June 2004 and revised in 2008. However, they consider that the overall implementation of the Guidelines by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Commission and the Member States has been uneven , focusing mainly on reactive measures, lacking consistency in the overall implementation of the strategy and characterised by insufficient visibility of EU action and channels of support for human rights defenders.

Stressing that the human rights defenders dimension has yet to be mainstreamed throughout the Union's external action in a systematic and consistent manner, Parliament called on the EU to strengthen its policy framework for human rights development through continuous, concrete and effective action in third countries, in particular in its relations with authoritarian regimes and in places with which the EU and its Member States have concluded association, trade, investment or cooperation agreements, or have important commercial, energy, security, migratory and other interests.

Team Europe - Working together for maximum impact

The resolution called on the EU to implement a genuine Team Europe approach to human rights defenders, encouraging Member States that are not yet active on human rights development issues to develop a specific strategy and framework for action . Such an approach, through which all EU institutions and actors, including the EU Special Representative on Human Rights, as well as the Member States, would work together on implementing the Guidelines, would prove effective in helping to counter the global backsliding of human rights and democracy.

The EU is invited to increase its institutional capacity , both in Brussels and in its delegations, in order to be able to adequately respond to the worsening environment faced by human rights defenders.

Greater focus on prevention and funding needs

Parliament underlined the importance of putting the protection of human rights defenders at the heart of the EU’s political engagement with and diplomatic agenda for third countries. The Commission and the Member States should prioritise:

- the systematic identification of key allies within third-country authorities and institutions,

- increased financial support for the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions;

- the strengthening of domestic legislation and policies on human rights defenders, in line with the UN framework on human rights defenders;

- the promotion of national campaigns, networks and structures to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of human rights defenders;

- efforts to encourage governments to dedicate sufficient funding to the protection of human rights defenders;

- assistance to develop independent mechanisms to address the climate of impunity for violations committed against human rights defenders;

- the provision of training for human rights defenders on issues such as reporting human rights violations and attacks against them.

Members reiterated their call on the Commission to strictly refrain from providing budgetary support to third-country governments responsible for widespread human rights violations and repression of human rights defenders.

New challenges

The resolution called, inter alia , for (i) implementing the Guidelines with a gender perspective ; (ii) addressing climate protection as a separate issue in its policy on human rights defenders; (iii) integrating violence against human rights defenders into its crisis management policy, (iv) prioritising the fight against the misuse of surveillance technologies in the field of human rights defenders; and (v) addressing the issue of human rights defenders in the context of the UN Human Rights Council, (iii) integrate violence against human rights defenders into its crisis management policy; (iv) prioritising the fight against the misuse of surveillance technologies to undermine the work of human rights defenders; (v) integrating the protection of the rights of human rights defenders, in particular trade union representatives and defenders of land, indigenous peoples' rights and the environment, into its corporate sustainability due diligence directive and its trade agreements and instruments.

The resolution stressed that visas are an essential protection tool and that, to effectively assist human rights defenders at risk, the Commission should take a proactive role in the establishment of a European multiple-entry visa system for these defenders.

European Parliament oversight and practical support

Parliament reiterated its commitment to playing a leading role in shaping and enhancing the EU’s action in support of human rights defenders, notably through its plenary urgency resolutions and debates, the work of its Subcommittee on Human Rights, specifically reports and hearings, its missions to third countries and international and regional organisations and its annual Sakharov Prize.

Parliament decided to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights defenders, including through: (i) the adoption of a new European Parliament strategic framework on support for human rights defenders, (ii) a more systematic dialogue with human rights defenders in all its relevant bodies, and (ii) the organisation of an annual meeting with human rights defenders by each interparliamentary delegation and the external affairs committees.

Necessary institutional and policy changes

Parliament called for, inter alia :

- a comprehensive assessment of the Union's action in favour of human rights defenders in the framework of the mid-term review of the implementation of the 2020-2024 Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy, scheduled for June 2023;

- updating the Guidelines in the light of the evolving challenges and risks faced by human rights defenders, in particular the digital transformation and online threats;

- improving communication and transparency on the implementation of the Guidelines;

- the possibility of strengthening the EU's presence in all countries of serious human rights concerns.

Parliament called on the EEAS and the Commission to systematically consult civil society representatives and human rights defenders prior to any human rights dialogue.

Documents
2023/03/16
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2023/03/15
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2023/02/17
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted an own-initiative report by Hannah NEUMANN (Greens/EFA, DE) on EU guidelines on human rights defenders.

Members recall that human rights defenders are key allies in the EU's efforts to protect and promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law and to prevent conflicts worldwide. It is therefore in the essential interest of the EU and its Member States to support and protect their activities.

Overall assessment of the EU's strategic framework

Members welcome the EU policy framework for human rights defenders, which has developed over the last 20 years around the guidelines adopted in June 2004 and revised in 2008. However, they consider that the overall implementation of the Guidelines by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Commission and the Member States has been uneven , focusing mainly on reactive measures, lacking consistency in the overall implementation of the strategy and characterised by insufficient visibility of EU action and channels of support for human rights defenders.

The EU is called upon to strengthen its policy framework for human rights development through continuous, concrete and effective action in third countries, in particular in its relations with authoritarian regimes and in places with which the EU and its Member States have concluded association, trade, investment or cooperation agreements, or have important commercial, energy, security, migratory and other interests.

Team Europe - Working together for maximum impact

The report calls on the EU to implement a genuine Team Europe approach to human rights defenders, encouraging Member States that are not yet active on human rights development issues to develop a specific strategy and framework for action. It calls for greater consistency and a strategic overall approach in this regard and for a firm commitment by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) and his office on ensuring the consistent implementation of the Guidelines across all delegations.

Greater focus on prevention and funding needs

Members welcome the EU's substantial and steadily increasing financial contribution to supporting human rights defenders worldwide. They call for a qualitative shift towards a more comprehensive, long-term approach to ensuring the integral security of entire communities mobilised to defend their rights. They call on EU delegations to facilitate the establishment and funding of local and regional networks and movements of human rights defenders.

The report stresses the importance of placing the protection of human rights defenders at the heart of the EU's political commitment and diplomatic action vis-à-vis third countries. The Commission and Member States should give priority to: (i) systematically identifying key allies in third country authorities and institutions; (ii) providing more financial support for the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions; and (iii) strengthening national legislation and policies on human rights defenders.

Members reiterate their call on the Commission to refrain strictly from providing budgetary support to third country governments responsible for widespread human rights violations and repression of human rights defenders.

New challenges

The report calls, inter alia , for (i) implementing the Guidelines with a gender perspective; (ii) addressing climate protection as a separate issue in its policy on human rights defenders; (iii) integrating violence against human rights defenders into its crisis management policy, (iv) prioritising the fight against the misuse of surveillance technologies in the field of human rights defenders; and (v) addressing the issue of human rights defenders in the context of the UN Human Rights Council, (iii) integrate violence against human rights defenders into its crisis management policy; (iv) prioritising the fight against the misuse of surveillance technologies to undermine the work of human rights defenders; (v) integrating the protection of the rights of human rights defenders, in particular trade union representatives and defenders of land, indigenous peoples' rights and the environment, into its corporate sustainability due diligence directive and its trade agreements and instruments.

The report stresses that visas are an essential protection tool and that, in order to effectively assist human rights defenders at risk, the Commission should take a proactive role in the establishment of a European multiple-entry visa system for these defenders.

European Parliament oversight and practical support

The report stresses that Parliament, as a full member of Team Europe, should be fully integrated into the EU's policy on human rights defenders.

Parliament should decide to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights defenders, including through: (i) the adoption of a new European Parliament strategic framework on support for human rights defenders, (ii) a more systematic dialogue with human rights defenders in all its relevant bodies, and (ii) the organisation of an annual meeting with human rights defenders by each interparliamentary delegation and the external affairs committees.

Necessary institutional and policy changes

The report calls for, inter alia :

- the designation by each interparliamentary delegation of a human rights focal point among its bureau members;

- a comprehensive assessment of the Union's action in favour of human rights defenders in the framework of the mid-term review of the implementation of the 2020-2024 Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy, scheduled for June 2023;

- updating the Guidelines in the light of the evolving challenges and risks faced by human rights defenders, in particular the digital transformation and online threats;

- improving communication and transparency on the implementation of the Guidelines;

- the possibility of strengthening the EU's presence in all countries of serious human rights concerns.

The report calls on the EEAS and the Commission to systematically consult civil society representatives and human rights defenders prior to any human rights dialogue.

Documents
2023/02/09
   EP - Vote in committee
2022/11/21
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2022/10/24
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2021/11/25
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2021/05/26
   EP - NEUMANN Hannah (Verts/ALE) appointed as rapporteur in AFET

Documents

Activities

Votes

Orientations de l'Union européenne concernant les défenseurs des droits de l'homme - The EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders - Die Leitlinien der EU zum Schutz von Menschenrechtsverteidigern - A9-0034/2023 - Hannah Neumann - § 20, partie introductive - Am 3 #

2023/03/16 Outcome: -: 420, +: 119, 0: 6
PL HU IT CY HR MT EE CZ LU LV SI SK FI BE LT BG AT EL DK IE SE FR NL PT RO ES DE
Total
48
10
49
1
10
2
6
21
5
6
8
12
9
20
8
11
16
11
12
13
20
60
25
20
24
40
78
icon: ECR ECR
53

Croatia ECR

1

Slovakia ECR

For (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

1

Netherlands ECR

3

Romania ECR

1

Germany ECR

1
icon: ID ID
48

Estonia ID

For (1)

1

Czechia ID

2

Finland ID

1
3
icon: NI NI
24

Latvia NI

Against (1)

1

Slovakia NI

2

France NI

2

Netherlands NI

Against (1)

1

Spain NI

1

Germany NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2
icon: The Left The Left
30

Czechia The Left

Against (1)

1

Finland The Left

Against (1)

1

Belgium The Left

Against (1)

1

Denmark The Left

Against (1)

1

Ireland The Left

4

Sweden The Left

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1

France The Left

3

Netherlands The Left

Against (1)

1

Portugal The Left

4

Germany The Left

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
63

Poland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Romania Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

2
icon: Renew Renew
87

Poland Renew

1

Hungary Renew

Against (1)

1

Italy Renew

2

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Estonia Renew

Against (2)

2

Luxembourg Renew

2

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria Renew

Against (1)

1

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Sweden Renew

3
icon: S&D S&D
105

Hungary S&D

2

Malta S&D

Against (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2

Czechia S&D

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg S&D

Against (1)

1

Latvia S&D

Against (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

2

Belgium S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Denmark S&D

2
icon: PPE PPE
135

Cyprus PPE

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1

Croatia PPE

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3

Malta PPE

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1

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

2

Latvia PPE

3

Slovenia PPE

Against (2)

4

Slovakia PPE

For (1)

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

3

Finland PPE

Against (1)

1

Lithuania PPE

3

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Netherlands PPE

Abstain (1)

4

A9-0034/2023 - Hannah Neumann - § 26/1 #

2023/03/16 Outcome: +: 456, 0: 62, -: 23
DE FR ES IT RO PT PL NL BE AT SE IE DK EL HU BG SI LT CZ FI LV HR LU SK EE MT CY
Total
79
60
40
49
24
20
43
24
20
16
20
13
12
11
10
11
8
8
21
10
6
10
5
12
6
2
1
icon: PPE PPE
137

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Finland PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Slovakia PPE

Abstain (1)

3

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

For (1)

1

Cyprus PPE

For (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
103

Belgium S&D

2

Denmark S&D

2

Hungary S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

For (1)

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Slovakia S&D

Against (1)

2

Estonia S&D

2

Malta S&D

1
icon: Renew Renew
87

Italy Renew

2

Poland Renew

1

Austria Renew

For (1)

1
3

Ireland Renew

2

Hungary Renew

For (1)

1

Bulgaria Renew

For (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

1

Finland Renew

3

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Estonia Renew

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
63

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Romania Verts/ALE

1

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

3
icon: The Left The Left
31

Germany The Left

3

Netherlands The Left

For (1)

1

Belgium The Left

For (1)

1

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1

Denmark The Left

1

Czechia The Left

1

Finland The Left

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
24

Germany NI

Abstain (1)

2

France NI

For (1)

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2
1

Netherlands NI

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1

Latvia NI

1

Croatia NI

2

Slovakia NI

2
icon: ID ID
47
3

Czechia ID

Against (2)

2

Finland ID

Against (1)

1

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
49

Germany ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Spain ECR

1

Romania ECR

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1

Netherlands ECR

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3

Sweden ECR

3

Bulgaria ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

A9-0034/2023 - Hannah Neumann - § 26/3 #

2023/03/16 Outcome: +: 388, -: 115, 0: 41
DE FR ES RO PT SE NL BE IT IE CZ DK EL SI BG LV FI AT LU HR LT EE SK CY MT HU PL
Total
77
59
41
25
20
20
25
20
48
13
21
12
11
8
11
6
9
16
5
10
8
6
12
1
2
10
48
icon: S&D S&D
105

Belgium S&D

2

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Denmark S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

For (1)

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Lithuania S&D

2

Estonia S&D

2

Malta S&D

Abstain (1)

1

Hungary S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
88
3

Italy Renew

2

Ireland Renew

2

Slovenia Renew

2

Bulgaria Renew

For (1)

1

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Finland Renew

Against (1)

3

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Lithuania Renew

1

Estonia Renew

2

Hungary Renew

For (1)

1

Poland Renew

1
icon: PPE PPE
135

Netherlands PPE

Against (1)

4

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Slovenia PPE

Abstain (1)

4

Finland PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Croatia PPE

For (1)

3

Lithuania PPE

Against (1)

3

Estonia PPE

Abstain (1)

1

Slovakia PPE

Abstain (1)

3

Cyprus PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
61

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Romania Verts/ALE

1

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: The Left The Left
31

Germany The Left

3

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1

Netherlands The Left

For (1)

1

Belgium The Left

For (1)

1

Czechia The Left

1

Denmark The Left

1

Finland The Left

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
24

Germany NI

Against (1)

2

France NI

Against (2)

2
1

Netherlands NI

Against (1)

1

Latvia NI

1

Croatia NI

2

Slovakia NI

2
icon: ID ID
47

Czechia ID

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Finland ID

Abstain (1)

1

Austria ID

3

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
53

Germany ECR

Against (1)

1

Romania ECR

Against (1)

1

Sweden ECR

3

Netherlands ECR

Abstain (1)

3

Bulgaria ECR

Against (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

A9-0034/2023 - Hannah Neumann - § 28 - Am 5S #

2023/03/16 Outcome: -: 402, +: 119, 0: 14
PL HU IT CZ CY MT EE LU HR SK LV BG BE FI SI LT AT EL IE DK SE NL PT RO FR ES DE
Total
46
10
49
20
1
2
5
4
10
12
6
9
20
10
8
8
15
11
12
12
20
25
20
23
59
39
79
icon: ECR ECR
52

Croatia ECR

1

Slovakia ECR

For (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

1

Netherlands ECR

3

Romania ECR

Against (1)

1

Germany ECR

1
icon: ID ID
47

Czechia ID

For (1)

1

Estonia ID

For (1)

1

Finland ID

1
3
icon: NI NI
24

Croatia NI

Abstain (1)

2

Slovakia NI

2

Latvia NI

Against (1)

1

Netherlands NI

1

France NI

2

Spain NI

1

Germany NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2
icon: The Left The Left
31

Czechia The Left

Against (1)

1

Belgium The Left

Against (1)

1

Finland The Left

Against (1)

1

Ireland The Left

4

Denmark The Left

Against (1)

1

Sweden The Left

Against (1)

1

Netherlands The Left

Against (1)

1

France The Left

3

Germany The Left

3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
62

Poland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Romania Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

2
icon: Renew Renew
86

Poland Renew

1

Hungary Renew

Against (1)

1

Italy Renew

2

Estonia Renew

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria Renew

Against (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Slovenia Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

Against (1)

1

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Sweden Renew

3
icon: S&D S&D
101

Hungary S&D

2

Czechia S&D

Against (1)

1

Malta S&D

Against (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria S&D

3

Belgium S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Denmark S&D

2
icon: PPE PPE
132

Cyprus PPE

Against (1)

1

Malta PPE

Against (1)

1

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

2

Croatia PPE

3

Slovakia PPE

Abstain (1)

3

Latvia PPE

3

Bulgaria PPE

4

Finland PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

4

Lithuania PPE

3

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

A9-0034/2023 - Hannah Neumann - Considérant N - Am 2 #

2023/03/16 Outcome: -: 411, +: 118, 0: 6
PL HU IT CY MT EE HR SI LU LV BE SK FI LT BG CZ AT EL DK SE IE NL FR PT RO ES DE
Total
46
10
47
1
2
6
10
7
5
6
20
12
10
8
11
21
16
11
12
19
13
24
58
20
25
41
74
icon: ECR ECR
52

Croatia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

For (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

1

Netherlands ECR

3

Romania ECR

1

Germany ECR

1
icon: ID ID
47

Estonia ID

For (1)

1

Finland ID

1

Czechia ID

For (1)

Against (1)

2
3
icon: NI NI
23

Latvia NI

Against (1)

1

Slovakia NI

2

Netherlands NI

Against (1)

1

France NI

2

Spain NI

1

Germany NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2
icon: The Left The Left
31

Belgium The Left

Against (1)

1

Finland The Left

Against (1)

1

Czechia The Left

Against (1)

1

Denmark The Left

Against (1)

1

Sweden The Left

Against (1)

1

Ireland The Left

4

Netherlands The Left

Against (1)

1

France The Left

3

Germany The Left

3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
61

Poland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Italy Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

Against (2)

2

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Romania Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

2
icon: Renew Renew
86

Poland Renew

1

Hungary Renew

Against (1)

1

Italy Renew

Against (1)

1

Estonia Renew

Against (2)

2

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Luxembourg Renew

2

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria Renew

Against (1)

1

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Sweden Renew

3

Ireland Renew

2
icon: S&D S&D
101

Hungary S&D

2

Malta S&D

Against (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

Against (1)

1

Latvia S&D

Against (1)

1

Belgium S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Czechia S&D

Against (1)

1

Denmark S&D

2
icon: PPE PPE
134

Cyprus PPE

Against (1)

1

Malta PPE

Against (1)

1

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Croatia PPE

Abstain (1)

3

Slovenia PPE

For (1)

3

Luxembourg PPE

2

Latvia PPE

3

Slovakia PPE

3

Finland PPE

2

Lithuania PPE

3

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Netherlands PPE

For (1)

4

A9-0034/2023 - Hannah Neumann - Proposition de résolution (ensemble du texte) #

2023/03/16 Outcome: +: 400, 0: 86, -: 43
DE ES FR IT RO PL NL PT SE CZ AT DK BE IE EL BG FI LT SI HR LU LV SK EE MT CY HU
Total
70
39
59
48
24
48
25
18
20
20
15
12
20
13
11
11
10
8
7
10
5
6
11
6
2
1
10
icon: PPE PPE
131

Netherlands PPE

Abstain (1)

4

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Finland PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

3

Luxembourg PPE

2
3

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

For (1)

1

Cyprus PPE

For (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
99

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Denmark S&D

2

Belgium S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

For (1)

1

Slovakia S&D

1

Estonia S&D

2

Malta S&D

1

Hungary S&D

2
icon: Renew Renew
84

Italy Renew

For (1)

1

Poland Renew

1
3

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Bulgaria Renew

For (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Estonia Renew

2

Hungary Renew

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
61

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Italy Verts/ALE

3

Romania Verts/ALE

1

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2
icon: The Left The Left
31

Germany The Left

3

Netherlands The Left

For (1)

1

Portugal The Left

4

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1

Czechia The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Denmark The Left

1

Belgium The Left

For (1)

1

Ireland The Left

Abstain (2)

4

Finland The Left

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
23

Germany NI

Abstain (1)

2
1

France NI

Against (2)

2

Netherlands NI

Against (1)

1

Croatia NI

2

Latvia NI

Abstain (1)

1

Slovakia NI

2
icon: ECR ECR
53

Germany ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Romania ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

Against (1)

3

Sweden ECR

3

Bulgaria ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Croatia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

1
icon: ID ID
47

Czechia ID

Against (1)

1

Austria ID

3

Finland ID

Abstain (1)

1

Estonia ID

Abstain (1)

1
AmendmentsDossier
199 2021/2204(INI)
2022/11/21 AFET 199 amendments...
source: 738.617

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

docs/2
date
2023-03-16T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2023-0086_EN.html title: T9-0086/2023
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Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
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2023-03-16T00:00:00
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Decision by Parliament
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events/4
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2023-03-16T00:00:00
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Results of vote in Parliament
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events/5
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2023-03-16T00:00:00
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Decision by Parliament
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EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2023-0086_EN.html title: T9-0086/2023
events/5/summary
  • The European Parliament adopted by 400 votes to 43, with 86 abstentions, a resolution on EU guidelines on human rights defenders.
  • Parliament recalled that human rights defenders are key allies in the EU's efforts to protect and promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law and to prevent conflicts worldwide. It is therefore in the essential interest of the EU and its Member States to support and protect their activities.
  • Overall assessment of the EU's strategic framework
  • Members welcome the EU policy framework for human rights defenders, which has developed over the last 20 years around the guidelines adopted in June 2004 and revised in 2008. However, they consider that the overall implementation of the Guidelines by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Commission and the Member States has been uneven , focusing mainly on reactive measures, lacking consistency in the overall implementation of the strategy and characterised by insufficient visibility of EU action and channels of support for human rights defenders.
  • Stressing that the human rights defenders dimension has yet to be mainstreamed throughout the Union's external action in a systematic and consistent manner, Parliament called on the EU to strengthen its policy framework for human rights development through continuous, concrete and effective action in third countries, in particular in its relations with authoritarian regimes and in places with which the EU and its Member States have concluded association, trade, investment or cooperation agreements, or have important commercial, energy, security, migratory and other interests.
  • Team Europe - Working together for maximum impact
  • The resolution called on the EU to implement a genuine Team Europe approach to human rights defenders, encouraging Member States that are not yet active on human rights development issues to develop a specific strategy and framework for action . Such an approach, through which all EU institutions and actors, including the EU Special Representative on Human Rights, as well as the Member States, would work together on implementing the Guidelines, would prove effective in helping to counter the global backsliding of human rights and democracy.
  • The EU is invited to increase its institutional capacity , both in Brussels and in its delegations, in order to be able to adequately respond to the worsening environment faced by human rights defenders.
  • Greater focus on prevention and funding needs
  • Parliament underlined the importance of putting the protection of human rights defenders at the heart of the EU’s political engagement with and diplomatic agenda for third countries. The Commission and the Member States should prioritise:
  • - the systematic identification of key allies within third-country authorities and institutions,
  • - increased financial support for the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions;
  • - the strengthening of domestic legislation and policies on human rights defenders, in line with the UN framework on human rights defenders;
  • - the promotion of national campaigns, networks and structures to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of human rights defenders;
  • - efforts to encourage governments to dedicate sufficient funding to the protection of human rights defenders;
  • - assistance to develop independent mechanisms to address the climate of impunity for violations committed against human rights defenders;
  • - the provision of training for human rights defenders on issues such as reporting human rights violations and attacks against them.
  • Members reiterated their call on the Commission to strictly refrain from providing budgetary support to third-country governments responsible for widespread human rights violations and repression of human rights defenders.
  • New challenges
  • The resolution called, inter alia , for (i) implementing the Guidelines with a gender perspective ; (ii) addressing climate protection as a separate issue in its policy on human rights defenders; (iii) integrating violence against human rights defenders into its crisis management policy, (iv) prioritising the fight against the misuse of surveillance technologies in the field of human rights defenders; and (v) addressing the issue of human rights defenders in the context of the UN Human Rights Council, (iii) integrate violence against human rights defenders into its crisis management policy; (iv) prioritising the fight against the misuse of surveillance technologies to undermine the work of human rights defenders; (v) integrating the protection of the rights of human rights defenders, in particular trade union representatives and defenders of land, indigenous peoples' rights and the environment, into its corporate sustainability due diligence directive and its trade agreements and instruments.
  • The resolution stressed that visas are an essential protection tool and that, to effectively assist human rights defenders at risk, the Commission should take a proactive role in the establishment of a European multiple-entry visa system for these defenders.
  • European Parliament oversight and practical support
  • Parliament reiterated its commitment to playing a leading role in shaping and enhancing the EU’s action in support of human rights defenders, notably through its plenary urgency resolutions and debates, the work of its Subcommittee on Human Rights, specifically reports and hearings, its missions to third countries and international and regional organisations and its annual Sakharov Prize.
  • Parliament decided to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights defenders, including through: (i) the adoption of a new European Parliament strategic framework on support for human rights defenders, (ii) a more systematic dialogue with human rights defenders in all its relevant bodies, and (ii) the organisation of an annual meeting with human rights defenders by each interparliamentary delegation and the external affairs committees.
  • Necessary institutional and policy changes
  • Parliament called for, inter alia :
  • - a comprehensive assessment of the Union's action in favour of human rights defenders in the framework of the mid-term review of the implementation of the 2020-2024 Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy, scheduled for June 2023;
  • - updating the Guidelines in the light of the evolving challenges and risks faced by human rights defenders, in particular the digital transformation and online threats;
  • - improving communication and transparency on the implementation of the Guidelines;
  • - the possibility of strengthening the EU's presence in all countries of serious human rights concerns.
  • Parliament called on the EEAS and the Commission to systematically consult civil society representatives and human rights defenders prior to any human rights dialogue.
docs/2
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2023-03-16T00:00:00
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docs/2
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events/2/summary
  • The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted an own-initiative report by Hannah NEUMANN (Greens/EFA, DE) on EU guidelines on human rights defenders.
  • Members recall that human rights defenders are key allies in the EU's efforts to protect and promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law and to prevent conflicts worldwide. It is therefore in the essential interest of the EU and its Member States to support and protect their activities.
  • Overall assessment of the EU's strategic framework
  • Members welcome the EU policy framework for human rights defenders, which has developed over the last 20 years around the guidelines adopted in June 2004 and revised in 2008. However, they consider that the overall implementation of the Guidelines by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Commission and the Member States has been uneven , focusing mainly on reactive measures, lacking consistency in the overall implementation of the strategy and characterised by insufficient visibility of EU action and channels of support for human rights defenders.
  • The EU is called upon to strengthen its policy framework for human rights development through continuous, concrete and effective action in third countries, in particular in its relations with authoritarian regimes and in places with which the EU and its Member States have concluded association, trade, investment or cooperation agreements, or have important commercial, energy, security, migratory and other interests.
  • Team Europe - Working together for maximum impact
  • The report calls on the EU to implement a genuine Team Europe approach to human rights defenders, encouraging Member States that are not yet active on human rights development issues to develop a specific strategy and framework for action. It calls for greater consistency and a strategic overall approach in this regard and for a firm commitment by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) and his office on ensuring the consistent implementation of the Guidelines across all delegations.
  • Greater focus on prevention and funding needs
  • Members welcome the EU's substantial and steadily increasing financial contribution to supporting human rights defenders worldwide. They call for a qualitative shift towards a more comprehensive, long-term approach to ensuring the integral security of entire communities mobilised to defend their rights. They call on EU delegations to facilitate the establishment and funding of local and regional networks and movements of human rights defenders.
  • The report stresses the importance of placing the protection of human rights defenders at the heart of the EU's political commitment and diplomatic action vis-à-vis third countries. The Commission and Member States should give priority to: (i) systematically identifying key allies in third country authorities and institutions; (ii) providing more financial support for the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions; and (iii) strengthening national legislation and policies on human rights defenders.
  • Members reiterate their call on the Commission to refrain strictly from providing budgetary support to third country governments responsible for widespread human rights violations and repression of human rights defenders.
  • New challenges
  • The report calls, inter alia , for (i) implementing the Guidelines with a gender perspective; (ii) addressing climate protection as a separate issue in its policy on human rights defenders; (iii) integrating violence against human rights defenders into its crisis management policy, (iv) prioritising the fight against the misuse of surveillance technologies in the field of human rights defenders; and (v) addressing the issue of human rights defenders in the context of the UN Human Rights Council, (iii) integrate violence against human rights defenders into its crisis management policy; (iv) prioritising the fight against the misuse of surveillance technologies to undermine the work of human rights defenders; (v) integrating the protection of the rights of human rights defenders, in particular trade union representatives and defenders of land, indigenous peoples' rights and the environment, into its corporate sustainability due diligence directive and its trade agreements and instruments.
  • The report stresses that visas are an essential protection tool and that, in order to effectively assist human rights defenders at risk, the Commission should take a proactive role in the establishment of a European multiple-entry visa system for these defenders.
  • European Parliament oversight and practical support
  • The report stresses that Parliament, as a full member of Team Europe, should be fully integrated into the EU's policy on human rights defenders.
  • Parliament should decide to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights defenders, including through: (i) the adoption of a new European Parliament strategic framework on support for human rights defenders, (ii) a more systematic dialogue with human rights defenders in all its relevant bodies, and (ii) the organisation of an annual meeting with human rights defenders by each interparliamentary delegation and the external affairs committees.
  • Necessary institutional and policy changes
  • The report calls for, inter alia :
  • - the designation by each interparliamentary delegation of a human rights focal point among its bureau members;
  • - a comprehensive assessment of the Union's action in favour of human rights defenders in the framework of the mid-term review of the implementation of the 2020-2024 Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy, scheduled for June 2023;
  • - updating the Guidelines in the light of the evolving challenges and risks faced by human rights defenders, in particular the digital transformation and online threats;
  • - improving communication and transparency on the implementation of the Guidelines;
  • - the possibility of strengthening the EU's presence in all countries of serious human rights concerns.
  • The report calls on the EEAS and the Commission to systematically consult civil society representatives and human rights defenders prior to any human rights dialogue.
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