As governments scramble to protect their populations from COVID-19 many of the personal freedoms and rights we take for granted are being –temporarily- taken away… Although certain rights enshrined in the European Convention of Human Rights can be suspended in situations of emergency, an extra effort is needed to prevent abuse and protect the most vulnerable.

EPRS policy podcast - Upholding human rights in Europe during the pandemic

The EU and China are comprehensive strategic partners. Each year, the leaders of EU and China meet in the format of the EU-China Summit . The Summit is prepared through a network of bilateral high-level dialogues. These include the EU-China Strategic Dialogue between the EU High Representative/Vice President and the State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China.&nbsp;

The European Union and China are two of the biggest trading partners in the world. The EU is committed to open trading relations with China and wants to ensure that China trades fairly, respects intellectual property rights, and meets its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The EU-China Human Rights Dialogue was launched in 1995.&nbsp;Parliament strongly condemned in the past&nbsp;the Chinese government-led system of forced labour – in particular the exploitation of Uyghur, ethnic Kazakh and Kyrgyz, and other Muslim minority groups – in factories within and outside internment camps in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

The&nbsp;European Parliament&nbsp;is addressing China's export restrictions, particularly on critical raw materials like rare earths, through policy and legislation. Its approach includes strengthening the EU's internal supply chain with initiatives like the Critical Raw Materials Act, diversifying external sources through strategic partnerships, promoting a circular economy to reduce reliance on new materials.&nbsp;

EU - China

Parliament holds debates on human rights, democracy and rule of law topics.

Human rights are fundamental values of the entire international community. More than 70 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first comprehensive international human rights document to set common standards to which all UN members should aspire, human rights have become a cornerstone of the international system and have reached almost universal recognition. However, much remains to be done in practice so that every human being can enjoy their fundamental rights.

Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

During the plenary sessions MEPs hold debates on foreign affairs and security policy to discuss European Union (EU) action beyond its borders.

The EU Treaties differentiate between common foreign and security policy (CFSP), common security and defence policy (CSDP), external action, and the external dimension of internal policies.

To address new challenges such as climate change, rising insecurity or new migration patterns, the EU has put forward concrete solutions to shape synergy between the actors, in order to use shared expertise more effectively, and to find new sources of funding. The new foreign policy framework (EU global strategy) is intended to map the tools and resources best designed to help society as a whole, in the EU and partner countries, to withstand natural and manmade shocks more effectively. In the years to come, global instability is expected to rise; the challenge for the EU will be to ensure security while upholding the core values of the Treaties – human rights, democracy and the fight against poverty – as its primary objectives on the global stage.

Debates on foreign affairs and security policy

The Roma are Europe's largest ethnic minority. Out of an estimated total of 10-12 million in Europe, some 6 million live in the EU, and most of them are citizens of an EU country. &nbsp;The estimated share of the Roma in EU countries in 2012 ranges from 10.3% in Bulgaria, 9.1% in Slovakia, 8.3% in Romania, 7% in Hungary, 2.5% in Greece, 2% in Czechia and 1.6% in Spain, to less than 1% in most of the other countries.

Excessive force, police brutality and misconduct against Romani people continue to be reported across the EU, in line with the&nbsp;2020 findings&nbsp;of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).

The FRA report also revealed that Romani people are subject to widespread poverty, inadequate living conditions, poor health, exclusion from the labour market and harassment.&nbsp;

Romani people in the EU

MEPs debate the recent events in Iran, where authorities have been responding with massive force to nationwide protests that have erupted in recent weeks.

A resolution will be put to a vote on Thursday.

Iranian authorities have intensified their violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrations, resulting in a dramatic increase in deaths in recent days. Human rights organisations estimate that hundreds of protestors have been killed. Although the country faces an almost total internet shutdown and severe restrictions on telephone communications, information continues to emerge from the country, including authenticated footage showing protesters being killed and rows of bodies placed in bags outside medical facilities.

European Parliament President Metsola has voiced her support for “the courageous people of Iran” and urged the EU to swiftly broaden its sanctions to include all individuals who are sustaining the regime through repression, violence, and killings. On 12 January, she announced a ban on all diplomatic staff and any other representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran from entering European Parliament premises. “This House will not aid in legitimising this regime that has sustained itself through torture, repression and murder,” President Metsola said.

EP Plenary debate on the widespread demonstrations in Iran and the harsh crackdown

The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Volker Türk comes to the EU Parliament for the first time in this legislature. In an exchange of views with AFET - DROI MEPs in committee meeting, they discuss news topics in the field of geopolitics and human rights, before the adoption of the annual report on Human rights by the EP in plenary session, tentatively in March 2025.

AFET/DROI- Debate with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk

MEPs debate with EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas and take stock of the street protests rocking Georgia following the recent disputed elections.

Debate ongoing protests in Georgia

EP Plenary Session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

DROI D-US -  The EU's role in upholding human rights in its external action, even with traditional allied countries: the case of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the USA

EP Plenary Session - State violence in Minneapolis and the rule of law in the United States

EP Plenary session - Joint action addressing the increased use of death penalty

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

EP Plenary session - Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2025

EP Plenary session - Brutal repression against protesters in Iran

MEPs votes on 1) Human trafficking and grave human rights violations linked to the recruitment of non-Russian nationals, in particular from Africa, for Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine 2) The arbitrary detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by the junta in Niger 3) Case of Elene Khoshtaria and Political Prisoners under the Georgian Dream regime 4) (C10-0351/2025) - Calculation of emission credits for heavy-duty vehicles for the reporting periods of the years 2025 to 2029 5) Agius Saliba (A10-0140/2025) - Package travel and linked travel arrangements: make the protection of travellers more effective and simplify and clarify certain aspects 7) Rzońca (A10-0015/2026) - Activities of the European Ombudsperson – annual report 2024 /Multilateral negotiations in view of the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, 26 to 29 March 2026. Texts on which debate is closed

Voting Session

At the 2026 Munich Security Conference, a high-level panel featuring Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament; Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator from South Carolina; and Riyadh Karim Sadjadpour, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace — moderated by Christiane Amanpour, Chief International Anchor at CNN — examined Iran’s deepening domestic crisis and its regional and global implications.

Munich Security Conference 2026 - Townhall: "Breaking or Repeating the Cycle? Iran's Next Chapter" with the participation of Roberta METSOLA, EP President

This News item presents a screening in Strasbourg of "It was just an accident", one of the five films selected for the LUX Audience Award 2026.

LUX Audience Award 2026: screening of "It was just an accident"

1. Motions for resolution - Brutal repression against protesters in Iran 2. Attempted takeover of Lithuania’s public broadcaster and the threat to democracy in Lithuania

1. Jaroslav Bžoch (LIBE A10-0248/2025) - EU-Bosnia and Herzegovina Agreement on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2. Antonio López-Istúriz White (AFET A10-0266/2025) - Addressing impunity through EU sanctions, including the EU Global Human Rights sanctions regime (so-called “EU Magnitsky Act”)

Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, closes the debate on brutal repression against protesters in Iran. Iranian authorities have intensified their violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrations, resulting in a dramatic increase in deaths in recent days. Human rights organisations estimate that hundreds of protestors have been killed. Although the country faces an almost total internet shutdown and severe restrictions on telephone communications, information continues to emerge from the country, including authenticated footage showing protesters being killed and rows of bodies placed in bags outside medical facilities.

Brutal repression against protesters in Iran: closing statement by Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission

MEPs debate the recent events in Iran, where authorities have been responding with massive force to nationwide protests that have erupted in recent weeks. Iranian authorities have intensified their violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrations, resulting in a dramatic increase in deaths in recent days. Human rights organisations estimate that hundreds of protestors have been killed. Although the country faces an almost total internet shutdown and severe restrictions on telephone communications, information continues to emerge from the country, including authenticated footage showing protesters being killed and rows of bodies placed in bags outside medical facilities.

Brutal repression against protesters in Iran: MEPs debate (part 1)

Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, opens the debate on brutal repression against protesters in Iran. Iranian authorities have intensified their violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrations, resulting in a dramatic increase in deaths in recent days. Human rights organisations estimate that hundreds of protestors have been killed. Although the country faces an almost total internet shutdown and severe restrictions on telephone communications, information continues to emerge from the country, including authenticated footage showing protesters being killed and rows of bodies placed in bags outside medical facilities. This transcription if the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Brutal repression against protesters in Iran: opening statement by Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission

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