European Parliament Condemns Transnational Repression, pledges Action to Protect Activists
Brussels, Belgium – November 13, 2025 – The European Parliament overwhelmingly approved a resolution today calling for a unified and robust response to transnational repression targeting human rights defenders, dissidents, and advocates living within the european Union.While not legally binding, the resolution signals a strong commitment from European lawmakers to address the growing threat posed by governments employing tactics like targeted killings, abductions, harassment, and the misuse of international policing mechanisms.
The resolution specifically identifies china, Egypt, and Russia as being responsible for nearly 80% of known cases of transnational repression. A parliamentary report accompanying the resolution details these abuses, echoing findings from an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) titled China Targets.
The ICIJ investigation, conducted in collaboration with 42 media partners and based on two decades of internal Chinese government documents and interviews with 105 targets (including 44 in France, Ireland, and other European countries), revealed Beijing’s continued use of surveillance, hacking, and threats against Chinese and Hong Kong dissidents, Uyghur and Tibetan advocates, and their families abroad.
The European parliament’s action comes as concerns mount over the effectiveness of current responses to these threats. ICIJ and its European media partners recently found a lack of coordination and significant information gaps hindering EU member states’ ability to protect individuals targeted by foreign governments. Many targets, like Uyghur rights advocate Nurya Zyden in Dublin who reported being followed to an activist gathering in Sarajevo last year, have found little recourse through local law enforcement. Zyden’s experience reflects a broader trend: most targets interviewed by ICIJ reported not reporting threats due to fear of retaliation or a lack of faith in authorities.
The resolution also highlights the abuse of international policing tools, specifically Interpol’s red notice system, by Chinese authorities to pursue dissidents and others, frequently enough in violation of Interpol’s rules. Targets frequently discover they are subject to international warrants only upon encountering border control.
“So far,we have let it happen,” stated MEP Ridel in a statement.”It is time to put an end to it. europe must remain a safe haven for those fighting for freedom and democracy.”
Elodie Laborie, a spokesperson for the Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, emphasized that the resolution, while not legally binding, is intended to establish a clear position and raise awareness of the issue. The move represents a significant step towards bolstering protections for human rights defenders and addressing the escalating challenge of transnational repression within the European Union.
