The European Parliament passed a report on Thursday, November 13, named “on addressing transnational repression of human rights defenders,” calling on the EU to take action against the increasing cross-border repression incidents within its borders. The report specifically pointed out the Chinese Communist regime as the “worst offender.”
With 512 votes in favor and 76 against, the non-legally binding report aims to put pressure on the European Commission and member states to combat authoritarian regimes attempting to extend their domestic political control overseas.
The report highlighted the increasingly covert nature of state-led transnational repression, including personal attacks, surveillance, legal pressure, defamation, kidnappings, forced deportations, intimidation of family members, and even “extrajudicial killings.”
Findings indicated that authoritarian regimes use consular services and the Interpol’s red notice system to target individuals. In the digital realm, these regimes and their proxies are increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence technology, spyware, hacking attacks, and doxing to monitor and pursue their targets.
Victims of these oppressive tactics include journalists, lawyers, and overseas diaspora community members who expose human rights abuses by regimes.
Chloé Ridel, the French MEP who drafted the report, stated emphatically, “It is time to end this behavior. Europe must continue to be a safe haven for all those fighting for freedom and democracy.”
This report signifies the first clear definition by the European Parliament of “transnational repression,” paving the way for further actions to protect residents from authoritarian regimes, particularly those from countries like China.
Citing research from the Washington-based non-profit organization Freedom House, the report noted that about 80% of known cases of transnational human rights violations in the past decade were attributed to ten regimes. The Chinese Communist regime was identified as the most egregious violator, followed by governments of Turkey, Tajikistan, and Russia.
In response, lawmakers urged the systematic development of strategies to combat cross-border repression within the entire EU, including incorporating human rights clauses in agreements with non-EU countries. They also called on EU institutions and member states to address digital forms of transnational repression and ensure that the private sector, especially technology companies, take responsibility for facilitating such violations.
Furthermore, they advocated for transparent reporting by companies, establishing effective complaint mechanisms, and enabling human rights defenders and other high-risk groups to seek assistance.
Ridel stressed that one key recommendation is to strengthen market surveillance across the EU, prohibiting the export of spyware technology to countries with records of transnational repression or human rights abuses. “We must tell European businesses that if you produce spyware, you cannot export or sell it to entities intent on harming us. This is a matter of European sovereignty,” she said at a press conference preceding the November 12 plenary meeting.
The report also suggested establishing tracking and notification mechanisms to improve records of cross-border repression cases in member states, facilitating prompt responses and investigations. It proposed that these databases should be accessible to non-governmental organizations to ensure their contributions are properly recorded.
Additionally, lawmakers urged the EU to hold accountable regimes and individuals responsible for transnational repression and to implement targeted sanctions as a form of punishment.
At a time when concerns about authoritarian regimes, especially the Chinese Communist Party, intensifying their crackdown on dissidents in Europe are growing, Freedom House described the CCP’s overseas repression efforts as “the most complex and extensive globally.”
A series of reports released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in April revealed that the targets of China’s crackdown spread across EU countries such as Ireland, France, and Serbia, but the EU’s response has been described as ineffective and lacking coordination.
German MEP Hannah Neumann told the ICIJ, “The EU must draw clear red lines and support them with criminal investigations, sanctions, and diplomatic consequences to demonstrate that fundamental rights are non-negotiable.”
In June of this year, a study commissioned by the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights also pointed out that transnational repression “negatively impacts all levels of society, from individual rights to national security and democratic institutions.”