On Wednesday 12 December, the European Parliament called on the High Representative and the Member States to extend the European regime of restrictive measures “to include a European regime of human rights sanctions under which sanctions decided under the CFSP could be based on serious human rights violations” (see EUROPE 12156).
The Petras River Report Auštrevičius (ALDE, Lithuania) on human rights in the world in 2017 and the EU's policy on the matter, which the Parliament adopted (369 votes in favour, 115 against and 119 abstentions), underlines the institution's "deep concern” with “the global trend towards rejection of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in 2017”. They deplore the fact that “human rights defenders, journalists and NGOs are too often the targets of harassment, intimidation and violence, even murder”.
The Union is committed to placing human rights and democracy at the centre of its relations with third countries, the report also recalls.
MEPs also affirm the importance of protecting freedom of expression online and offline, while recalling that the dissemination of false news and misinformation via the internet represents a serious threat to democracy. The Parliament therefore calls for the appointment of an EU special envoy on cybersecurity issues. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)