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DRAFT REPORT (2026/2037(INI))

On the situation of international law and the risks to multilateralism, democracy and the European Union

AFET-PR-788816

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Elio Di Rupo

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This is a draft report by the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the situation of international law and the risks to multilateralism, democracy and the European Union. It stresses that the EU's credibility rests on consistent defence of the UN Charter principles and calls for stronger support for international courts, including activating the Blocking Statute to protect the International Criminal Court. It asks for UN reform, deeper partnerships with Global South countries, and strengthened EU development cooperation. It proposes a structured diplomatic initiative with like-minded partners and closer engagement with regional organisations such as the African Union and ASEAN. It calls for stronger democratic resilience against hybrid threats and for the EU to act as a more effective global player, including a shift to qualified majority voting on foreign policy and a European Defence Union.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament adopt a resolution stressing the EU's commitment to international law and multilateralism, calling for stronger support for international courts, UN reform, new partnerships with like-minded countries and the Global South, and greater EU democratic resilience and global effectiveness.

Key points

  1. Stresses that the EU's credibility depends on consistent defence of UN Charter principles, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, self-determination and human rights.
  2. Invites the Commission and the VP/HR to strengthen support for the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, and calls on the Commission to activate the Blocking Statute to protect the ICC from unlawful extraterritorial sanctions.
  3. Invites the VP/HR, the Council and member states to support UN reform, including the Security Council, in line with the UN80 Initiative, and to ensure a stronger voice for Global South countries.
  4. Invites the Commission, the VP/HR, the Council and member states to strengthen strategic coordination within the UN system through structured consultation involving the EEAS, EU delegations and member states.
  5. Invites the Commission and the VP/HR to deepen partnerships with Global South countries based on mutual respect and shared ownership, with cooperation on food security, sustainable infrastructure, clean energy, global health, artificial intelligence and sustainable finance.
  6. Invites the Commission, the VP/HR and member states to strengthen EU development cooperation guided by measurable results and local needs, with simplified funding procedures.
  7. Takes into account Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's call for enhanced cooperation between democratic middle powers, and invites the VP/HR to launch a structured diplomatic initiative with like-minded partners, including a roadmap and closer engagement with the African Union, ASEAN, CELAC and Mercosur.
  8. Stresses that EU credibility abroad depends on respect for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights within the EU, and calls for strengthened rule of law conditionality.
  9. Invites the Commission, the VP/HR and member states to strengthen resilience to hybrid threats by protecting democratic institutions and electoral processes, strengthening cybersecurity, combating foreign information manipulation and interference, and protecting journalists and media freedom.
  10. Invites the Council to establish an annual Foreign Affairs Council meeting dedicated to international law, multilateralism and global governance reform.
  11. Reiterates its call for a transition from unanimous voting to qualified majority voting on common foreign and security policy matters, and calls for accelerating the establishment of a genuine European Defence Union.
  12. Invites the Commission, the Council and member states to strengthen open strategic autonomy by reducing excessive strategic dependencies, and calls for clearer external representation of the EU and a strengthened EEAS.

Who is affected

  • The Commission, the VP/HR, the Council and member states, which are asked to take numerous actions on international law, multilateralism and EU resilience.
  • The International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, which the report says must be protected from pressure and coercive measures.
  • Countries in the Global South, which the report says are essential partners in global governance and should have a stronger voice in the UN.
  • The EEAS and EU delegations, which are asked to strengthen strategic coordination within the UN system.
  • Journalists and citizens, whose protection and resilience to disinformation the report calls for strengthening.

Figures and deadlines

  • UN General Assembly Resolution 79/318 of 18 July 2025, entitled 'UN80 Initiative'.
  • UN General Assembly Resolution 65/276 of 3 May 2011, entitled 'Participation of the European Union in the work of the United Nations'.
  • Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court of 17 July 1998.
  • UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, adopted on 18 December 1979.
  • Council conclusions of 20 October 2025 on Upgrading the EU-UN Strategic Partnership on Peace and Security: Joint Priorities 2025-2028.
  • Council conclusions of 13 July 2026 on EU priorities at the United Nations during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, September 2026 – September 2027.
  • Special address by Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos on 20 January 2026.

Legal basis: Articles 21, 34 and 36 of the Treaty on European Union, and Articles 208, 209, 214, 215 and 220 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.