Detention of EU citizens abroad

Latest decisions

1. Conviction and imminent sentencing of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong

   Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the conviction of Jimmy Lai, a British citizen and media entrepreneur in Hong Kong, and calling for his immediate release. The text also urges Hong Kong authorities to provide Lai with medical care and expresses concern about his solitary confinement. Parliament calls on member states to suspend extradition treaties with Hong Kong and China and to review the status of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in Europe. The resolution will be forwarded to the EU institutions, China, and Hong Kong.

   Foreign affairs

   22 Jan 2026 · Resolutions · motion for a resolution · 6 ballots · voted 12:05 · B-10-2026-0082 · 2026/2573

   Adopted 503–9–100 · by an overwhelming majority
2. Case of Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic

   Parliament adopted a resolution on the case of Joseph Figueira Martin, a Belgian-Portuguese citizen detained in the Central African Republic. It condemns his forced labour sentence and calls on the Central African authorities to annul or revise it, guarantee legal remedies, and ensure fair trial rights and medical care. Parliament also demands an independent investigation into allegations of torture and urges accountability for the Wagner Group's abuses. The resolution will be forwarded to EU institutions, member states, and Central African authorities.

   Foreign affairs

   22 Jan 2026 · Resolutions · motion for a resolution · 7 ballots · voted 12:05 · B-10-2026-0066 · 2026/2572

   Adopted 582–0–35 · by an overwhelming majority
3. 10th anniversary of the detention of jailed Swedish publisher Gui Minhai in China

   Parliament adopted a resolution on the 10th anniversary of the detention of Swedish publisher Gui Minhai in China, calling for his immediate and unconditional release. The text reiterates demands for China to comply with international obligations, ensuring access to family, legal representation, consular officials, and medical care. It also condemns China's pattern of human rights violations and urges that the case be raised in EU-China dialogues.

   Foreign affairs

   9 Oct 2025 · Resolutions · motion for a resolution · 7 ballots · voted 13:11 · B-10-2025-0433 · 2025/2906

   Adopted 546–3–44 · by an overwhelming majority
4. Arbitrary detention of EU citizens Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta in Equatorial Guinea

   Parliament adopted a resolution on the arbitrary detention of two Spanish citizens, Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta, in Equatorial Guinea. It expresses grave concern and calls on the authorities to secure their immediate release, demanding urgent medical evacuation for one detainee in critical health. The resolution also urges Equatorial Guinea to respect human rights obligations, improve detention conditions, and enhance democratic governance. Parliament instructs its President to forward the resolution to the Council, the EU's foreign policy chief, the African Union, the UN, and Equatorial Guinea's authorities.

   Foreign affairs

   9 Oct 2025 · Resolutions · motion for a resolution · 7 ballots · B-10-2025-0442 · 2025/2904

   Adopted no count published
5. Case of Abdoul Aziz Goma, arbitrarily detained in Togo

   Parliament adopted a resolution on the case of Abdoul-Aziz Goma, an Irish-Togolese citizen detained in Togo since December 2018 after providing aid to demonstrators. The text urges Togolese authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally, vacate his conviction, guarantee his safety, and facilitate urgent medical evacuation. It also calls for an investigation into his torture, penitentiary reforms, and intensified EU diplomatic efforts, while expressing concern over Russian influence in the region.

   Foreign affairs

   11 Sept 2025 · Resolutions · motion for a resolution · 5 ballots · B-10-2025-0386 · 2025/2862

   Adopted no count published
6. Case of Ryan Cornelius in Dubai

   Parliament adopted a resolution on the case of British national Ryan Cornelius, imprisoned in Dubai since 2008 after a disputed fraud conviction and a retroactive 20-year sentence extension. The resolution expresses deep concern over his continued arbitrary detention, citing violations of international law and inhumane treatment due to his deteriorating health. It calls on the EU's diplomatic service and the EU Special Representative for Human Rights to engage with UAE authorities to secure his immediate release, and urges the EU Delegation to monitor his conditions and provide consular assistance.

   Foreign affairs

   10 Jul 2025 · Resolutions · motion for a resolution · 6 ballots · voted 13:06 · B-10-2025-0341 · 2025/2796

   Adopted 511–50–75 · by an overwhelming majority
7. Arbitrary arrest and torture of Belgian-Portuguese researcher Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic

   Parliament adopted a resolution on the arbitrary arrest and torture of Belgian-Portuguese researcher Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic. It demands his immediate and unconditional release and insists that any judicial proceedings comply with due process guarantees. It urges the Central African Republic to allow immediate medical evacuation and access to legal representation and consular assistance. It calls on the EU's foreign policy chief to step up diplomatic efforts with Belgian and Portuguese authorities to secure his release.

   Foreign affairs

   10 Jul 2025 · Resolutions · motion for a resolution · 6 ballots · voted 13:06 · B-10-2025-0334 · 2025/2797

   Adopted 617–4–18 · by an overwhelming majority
8. Case of Ahmadreza Djalali in Iran

   Parliament adopted a resolution on the case of Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian researcher detained in Iran since 2016 and sentenced to death on espionage charges. The text calls on Iran to release him immediately and unconditionally, and demands that his rights, including medical care and family access, be protected. It also urges the Council to expand EU sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations in Iran.

   Foreign affairs

   19 Jun 2025 · Resolutions · motion for a resolution · 13 ballots · voted 13:01 · B-10-2025-0286 · 2025/2753

   Adopted 486–8–29 · by an overwhelming majority
9. Case of Boualem Sansal in Algeria

   Parliament adopted a resolution on the case of Boualem Sansal, a French-Algerian writer detained in Algeria since November 2024. The text calls on Algerian authorities to release Sansal and all those arbitrarily detained for expressing opinions, and to amend penal code articles to protect press freedom. It also condemns the detention of at least 215 prisoners of opinion and calls for allowing foreign journalists to operate freely in Algeria. Parliament asks Algeria to implement UN recommendations and end intimidation of lawyers and judges, and expresses concern over a political party reform.

   Foreign affairs

   23 Jan 2025 · Resolutions · motion for a resolution · 15 ballots · voted 12:10 · B-10-2025-0091 · 2025/2512

   Adopted 533–24–48 · by an overwhelming majority

Dossiers involved · latest vote first

1. 2026/2572 Case of Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic 22 Jan 2026 · 1 vote
2. 2026/2573 Conviction and imminent sentencing of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong 22 Jan 2026 · 1 vote
3. 2025/2904 Arbitrary detention of EU citizens Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta in Equatorial Guinea 9 Oct 2025 · 1 vote
4. 2025/2906 10th anniversary of the detention of jailed Swedish publisher Gui Minhai in China 9 Oct 2025 · 1 vote
5. 2025/2862 Case of Abdoul Aziz Goma, arbitrarily detained in Togo 11 Sept 2025 · 1 vote
6. 2025/2796 Case of Ryan Cornelius in Dubai 10 Jul 2025 · 1 vote
7. 2025/2797 Arbitrary arrest and torture of Belgian-Portuguese researcher Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic 10 Jul 2025 · 1 vote
8. 2025/2753 Case of Ahmadreza Djalali in Iran 19 Jun 2025 · 1 vote
9. 2025/2512 Case of Boualem Sansal in Algeria 23 Jan 2025 · 1 vote

Who backs what

How each group's majority voted on the 7 most recent final roll calls about Detention of EU citizens abroad. A group is "split" when no position won among its members.

The latest final votes, group by group

✦ This theme was found by a model reading the decisions; the list of decisions, the counts and the group lines are computed from the record. Wrongly filed decisions can be reported to the site's maintainer.