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Law and Democracy Support Foundation (LDSF) welcomes the adoption by the European Parliament of Resolution A10-0142/2026on countering transnational repression, which represents a significant step toward establishing a clear European recognition of the risks posed by this phenomenon and its implications for human rights and democratic systems within the European Union.
The Foundation, which contributed alongside civil society organizations to the consultations related to the report issued by the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), considers the adoption of the resolution on this basis an important development toward building a more coordinated and comprehensive EU approach. It marks a shift from merely identifying and describing transnational repression to developing more effective political and legal responses to address it.
The resolution, which was supported by civil society actors in cooperation with Member of the European Parliament Hannah Neumann, received broad backing within the Parliament. It was adopted by a large majority of 434 votes in favor, 128 against, and 104 abstentions.
In this context, Basma Mostafa, Director of Programs at LDSF, stated:
“This resolution sends a clear signal that Europe is beginning to recognize that repression does not stop at borders, and that protecting human rights defenders in exile is not optional, it is a necessity.
However, the real challenge begins now: ensuring that these commitments move beyond rhetoric and translate into effective protection and accountability policies. Our experience shows that transnational repression is a daily reality for many activists, including those connected to the Arab region, which requires a more robust and coordinated European response.”
The resolution affirms that transnational repression constitutes a systematic practice carried out by states or state-linked actors targeting individuals beyond their borders for the purpose of intimidation, coercion, or silencing. These practices affect human rights defenders, journalists, and political dissidents in exile, as well as their families.
It also includes a set of measures that reflect priorities long advocated by LDSF, including the adoption of a unified European definition of transnational repression, the development of monitoring and documentation mechanisms, and the enhancement of data collection. It further calls for strengthening the capacity of EU Member States to identify and respond effectively to such practices.
The resolution highlights the importance of enhanced coordination among Member States and EU institutions, including the establishment of cooperation and information-sharing mechanisms, the designation of national contact points, and the development of a more integrated European approach to address the cross-border nature of these violations.
It further emphasizes the need for a victim-centered response, including the provision of legal and psychosocial support, improved reporting mechanisms, and ensuring effective access to protection, while recognizing the long-term psychological and social impacts of transnational repression.
In addition, the resolution underscores the growing digital dimensions of transnational repression, including cyber surveillance, digital attacks, and the use of artificial intelligence and social media platforms to target activists and dissidents. It also highlights the misuse of legal and administrative frameworks such as Interpol mechanisms and judicial procedures as tools of intimidation and coercion.
In this context, it is worth noting that the European Parliament had adopted, in November 2025, a resolution establishing an initial framework for defining transnational repression and proposing measures to address it (P10_TA(2025)0258). This was based on a comprehensive analytical study published in June 2025 on the targeting of human rights defenders in exile and its impact on civic space in host countries.
The report relied primarily on the case of Egyptian journalist Basma Mostafa, Director of Programs at LDSF, as well as on reports from international mechanisms issued following the Foundation’s advocacy efforts, including the UN complaint signed by five Special Rapporteurs in December 2024, in addition to joint mobilization efforts with human rights organizations before the European Parliament. The Foundation further reinforced this role through its participation in policy dialogues at the European level, as well as its engagement in civil society networks and coalitions at both the German and European levels.
These efforts have also contributed to advancing the European debate toward recognizing the expanding scope of countries engaged in such practices, and affirming that transnational repression is a global phenomenon that extends beyond a limited number of states. This includes the Egyptian context, where LDSF has documented patterns such as targeting family members, politically motivated prosecutions, denial of consular services, defamation campaigns, and surveillance.
In light of the adoption of this resolution, LDSF calls on EU institutions and Member States to build on this momentum by translating its recommendations into concrete policies, strengthening European coordination, and ensuring meaningful engagement of civil society as a key partner in monitoring and response efforts.
