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DRAFT REPORT (2026/2005(INI))

On shaping the EU's external action to address the human rights challenges posed by artificial intelligence

AFET-PR-790047

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Nacho Sánchez Amor

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 25 Sept 2026

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A draft report by the Committee on Foreign Affairs calls for a holistic EU strategy for external action on artificial intelligence (AI) that puts human rights at its centre. It sets out risks AI poses to human rights, democracy and the rule of law, including surveillance, discrimination, gender-based violence, harm to children, labour impacts and transnational repression. It asks the Commission and the EEAS to set global minimum standards, support participatory governance, strengthen the EU AI Office and the EEAS, and integrate AI into democracy promotion and electoral observation. It calls for an export ban on AI-assisted mass surveillance systems, for AI Act principles to be integrated into the Dual-Use Regulation, and for the AI Act's scope to cover exports. It supports UN efforts for a legally binding agreement to regulate and ban lethal autonomous weapon systems, and calls for EU support for international courts investigating AI-related violations. It calls for EU financial assistance for AI in non-EU countries to be conditional on trustworthy, rights-respecting AI, and for support to open-source AI and interoperable standards.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament call for a holistic EU external AI strategy centred on human rights, with global minimum standards, export bans on AI-assisted mass surveillance, integration of AI Act principles into the Dual-Use Regulation, and support for a legally binding agreement on lethal autonomous weapon systems.

Key points

  1. Stresses that human rights, particularly human dignity, equality and non-discrimination, must remain at the centre of AI, with transparency, oversight and accessible remedies at every phase of the AI life cycle.
  2. Underlines that states have a duty under international law to refrain from and address unjustified interference with human rights, and to ensure their effective realisation and protection.
  3. Warns that AI can exacerbate social inequalities, enable more sophisticated and pervasive surveillance, and be repurposed to suppress dissent and target human rights defenders.
  4. Condemns the use of AI to perpetuate gender-based violence, expresses concern about harm to children and adolescents, and warns against undermining workers' rights, dignity and well-being.
  5. Notes growing reliance on AI to monitor borders and migration routes, concern about environmental and social implications, and growing risks of AI being used for transnational repression.
  6. Calls for the EU institutions and Member States to lead efforts in international forums to develop AI-specific guidance on corporate responsibility for human rights.
  7. Emphasises that AI deployment in electoral processes must comply with the highest standards of transparency, explainability, accountability and independent evaluation, and notes risks to media pluralism from concentration of power among AI providers.
  8. Calls for the immediate development of a holistic EU strategy for external action on AI, and on the Commission to work towards global minimum standards of protection against serious AI risks.
  9. Calls for strengthening the EU AI Office and the EEAS with adequate financial and human resources, and for full use of EU instruments, including a stronger EU Special Representative on Human Rights.
  10. Calls for the EU and Member States to coordinate in multilateral forums, support the UN System and collaborate with the Council of Europe on international standards for trustworthy AI.
  11. Calls for EU financial assistance for AI in non-EU countries, including under Global Europe and Global Gateway, to be conditional on trustworthy and rights-respecting AI, and for support to open-source AI and interoperable standards.
  12. Supports UN efforts for a legally binding agreement to globally regulate and ban lethal autonomous weapon systems, condemns AI-related violations in armed conflicts, and calls for EU support to the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

Who is affected

  • EU institutions and Member States, asked to lead international efforts on corporate responsibility and coordinate in multilateral forums.
  • The Commission and the EEAS, asked to integrate AI into democracy promotion and electoral observation and to support trustworthy AI in human rights monitoring.
  • Non-EU countries, particularly candidate countries, EU neighbourhood countries and the Global South, targeted for AI partnerships and conditional financial assistance.
  • Businesses, reminded of their role in ensuring AI development and data use respect human rights.
  • Victims of AI-related human rights violations, who should have access to an effective remedy.

Legal basis: Articles 2, 3, 8, 21, 23 and 36 of the Treaty on European Union; Articles 17 and 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.