Am 4. Dezember 2025 fand im Europäischen Parlament eine Anhörung zur transnationalen Repression im Unterausschuss für Menschenrechte (DROI) statt. Ziel der Sitzung war es, aufzuzeigen, wie autoritäre Staaten Kritiker*innen über Ländergrenzen hinweg verfolgen, auch innerhalb der Europäischen Union, und welche politischen Antworten darauf notwendig sind.
Why this concerns us
As rapporteur of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) for the report on transnational repression, I made it clear during the hearing that this is not a marginal issue, but a central challenge to Europe’s security, rule of law, and democratic order. If people are not able to express their opinions freely even within the EU, the space of protection that Europe wants and needs to guarantee is being undermined. The panel brought together key actors. In addition to Chloé Ridel, rapporteur of the DROI report on transnational repression, representatives of the European External Action Service and organisations such as OHCHR, Human Rights Watch, and Front Line Defenders took part in the discussion. Their contributions made clear how systematically intimidation, surveillance, and threats are used against communities in exile, and how often those affected currently fall through the cracks of European protection mechanisms.
What needs to change
One key conclusion of the hearing was this: while authoritarian regimes are increasingly acting in a coordinated, cross-border manner, European responses often remain fragmented and confined to the national level. This is precisely where my work in Parliament comes in – with the aim of developing a coherent European strategy, establishing clear responsibilities, and effectively enforcing protection for those affected.
Europe cannot stop all dictatorships in the world. But we can decide what happens within the European Union and whether we provide protection to those who are persecuted because of their commitment to freedom and human rights.
