Sittings · Document
Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025
14.1.2026 A10-0262/17
Amendment 17
Cristian Terheş, Arkadiusz Mularczyk
on behalf of the ECR Group
Report A10-0262/2025
Francisco Assis
Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025
(2025/2166(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
Ma. whereas Christian communities in the Middle East, among the oldest in the world, continue to face severe persecution, discrimination, forced displacement and restrictions on their freedom of religion or belief;
Or. en
14.1.2026 A10-0262/18
Amendment 18
Nicolas Bay, Marion Maréchal, Laurence Trochu, Guillaume Peltier, Arkadiusz Mularczyk
on behalf of the ECR Group
Report A10-0262/2025
Francisco Assis
Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025
(2025/2166(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Recital V a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
Va. whereas several foreign countries have developed interference strategies in EU Member States by financing or supporting separatist movements or Islamist groups, thereby undermining national sovereignty, regional stability and respect for democratic values;
Or. en
14.1.2026 A10-0262/19
Amendment 19
Charlie Weimers, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Jaak Madison, Dick Erixon, Beatrice Timgren, Kristoffer Storm
on behalf of the ECR Group
Report A10-0262/2025
Francisco Assis
Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025
(2025/2166(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
2a. Considers a restrictive migration policy an essential policy tool to ensure safe and orderly societies in which human rights can continue to be upheld;
Or. en
14.1.2026 A10-0262/20
Amendment 20
Cristian Terheş, Arkadiusz Mularczyk
on behalf of the ECR Group
Report A10-0262/2025
Francisco Assis
Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025
(2025/2166(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
5a. Stresses the critical need to protect the rights of pregnant women, ensuring comprehensive support for their health, safety and dignity;
Or. en
14.1.2026 A10-0262/21
Amendment 21
Cristian Terheş, Arkadiusz Mularczyk
on behalf of the ECR Group
Report A10-0262/2025
Francisco Assis
Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025
(2025/2166(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
5b. Stresses the importance of combating all forms of sexual exploitation of women, including trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation; underlines the need to prevent and counter the legalisation and normalisation of prostitution, which risk reinforcing exploitation, abuse and organised crime; calls for effective policies focused on prevention, protecting and supporting victims, and the prosecution of those who profit from sexual exploitation;
Or. en
14.1.2026 A10-0262/22
Amendment 22
Charlie Weimers, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Jaak Madison, Dick Erixon, Beatrice Timgren
on behalf of the ECR Group
Report A10-0262/2025
Francisco Assis
Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025
(2025/2166(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
8. Stresses that cyberattacks, disinformation and misinformation, often used as tools of foreign interference, including during electoral periods, contribute to this trend of democratic decline; stresses the critical significance of trustworthy, independent and diverse sources of information and of quality journalism not only for transparency and accountability but also for the resilience of democratic institutions and the informed participation of citizens in public life; is therefore deeply concerned by the growing and multifaceted challenges faced by independent media, including increasing attacks on journalists and the decrease in available funding; reiterates that freedom of speech is a human right, vital for the development of a pluralistic and democratic society; condemns the increase in the censorship, silencing and harassing of journalists, HRDs and CSOs in their work through the application of so-called foreign agents laws, as well as other legislative and non-legislative measures adopted by authoritarian and illiberal regimes; notes that this behaviour includes measures encompassing strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), restrictive government policies, transnational repression, defamation campaigns, discrimination, intimidation, arbitrary detention and violence, having a long-lasting effect on their career and safety; highlights, in this regard, the role played by fact checkers in the media landscape, ensuring that the public can trust the information they receive;
8. Stresses that cyberattacks, disinformation and misinformation, often used as tools of foreign interference, including during electoral periods, contribute to this trend of democratic decline; stresses the critical significance of trustworthy, independent and diverse sources of information and of quality journalism not only for transparency and accountability but also for the resilience of democratic institutions and the informed participation of citizens in public life; is therefore deeply concerned by the growing and multifaceted challenges faced by independent media, including increasing attacks on journalists and the decrease in available funding; reiterates that freedom of speech is a human right, vital for the development of a pluralistic and democratic society; rejects, therefore, any attempts to ban, suspend, or restrict access to platforms such as X in the EU; considers that unimpeded access to free speech platforms such as X remains essential for free and open debate, diversity of opinion, and democratic scrutiny; condemns the increase in the censorship, silencing and harassing of journalists, HRDs and CSOs in their work through the application of so-called foreign agents laws, as well as other legislative and non-legislative measures adopted by authoritarian and illiberal regimes; notes that this behaviour includes measures encompassing strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), restrictive government policies, transnational repression, defamation campaigns, discrimination, intimidation, arbitrary detention and violence, having a long-lasting effect on their career and safety; highlights, in this regard, the role played by fact checkers in the media landscape, ensuring that the public can trust the information they receive;
Or. en
14.1.2026 A10-0262/23
Amendment 23
Charlie Weimers, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Jaak Madison, Kristoffer Storm, Dick Erixon, Beatrice Timgren
on behalf of the ECR Group
Report A10-0262/2025
Francisco Assis
Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025
(2025/2166(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
8a. Urges the Commission and the Member States to ensure that digital regulations, including the Digital Services Act, prioritise proportionality, transparency and safeguards against censorship or political overreach;
Or. en
14.1.2026 A10-0262/24
Amendment 24
Nicolas Bay, Marion Maréchal, Laurence Trochu, Guillaume Peltier, Arkadiusz Mularczyk
on behalf of the ECR Group
Report A10-0262/2025
Francisco Assis
Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025
(2025/2166(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
9a. Recalls the EU’s continued support for popular protests against the mullah regime in Tehran; recalls that this regime has been violently repressing its own population for decades, as illustrated in particular by the killing of Mahsa Amini on 16 September 2022 by the Iranian morality police; deplores the fact that, according to several non-governmental organisations, more than 500 people have been killed by the Iranian regime since the protests began in 2026;
Or. en
14.1.2026 A10-0262/25
Amendment 25
Cristian Terheş, Arkadiusz Mularczyk
on behalf of the ECR Group
Report A10-0262/2025
Francisco Assis
Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025
(2025/2166(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
17a. Underlines the ongoing abuses and serious human rights violations taking place in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia, which remain under illegal Russian occupation; notes with concern the persistent restrictions on freedom of movement, arbitrary detentions, harassment of local populations, and denial of access for humanitarian and international monitoring missions; notes with deep concern that since January 2025 the Georgian authorities have registered the detention of 54 people by the Russian occupation regime in the regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia; condemns the fact that the Russian Federation does not differentiate on humanitarian grounds and illegally arrests women, children, elderly persons and individuals with severe health conditions; expresses particular alarm at the emerging pattern of targeting young Georgian women in Sokhumi, where several women have been detained on fabricated charges such as espionage or the possession of a Georgian passport;
Or. en
14.1.2026 A10-0262/26
Amendment 26
Charlie Weimers, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Kristoffer Storm, Jaak Madison, Dick Erixon, Beatrice Timgren
on behalf of the ECR Group
Report A10-0262/2025
Francisco Assis
Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025
(2025/2166(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
18. Reiterates its concern over violations of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief, and the global rise in intolerance towards local faith actors and religious communities; deplores the political instrumentalisation of religious identities and the exclusion of religious minorities, including from political participation, as well as attacks on cultural and historical sites; stresses that freedom to choose one’s religion or belief is a human right that cannot be punished; condemns, therefore, the existence and implementation of so-called apostasy laws and blasphemy laws that lead to harsh penalties, degrading treatment and, in some cases, even to death sentences;
18. Reiterates its concern over violations of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief, and the global rise in intolerance towards local faith actors and religious communities; deplores the political instrumentalisation of religious identities and the exclusion of religious minorities, including from political participation, as well as attacks on cultural and historical sites; stresses that freedom to choose one’s religion or belief is a human right that cannot be punished; condemns, therefore, the existence and implementation of so-called apostasy laws and blasphemy laws that lead to harsh penalties, degrading treatment and, in some cases, even to death sentences; considers a ban on the Islamic veil a legitimate policy tool to safeguard human rights in Europe;
Or. en