Submission by Amnesty International and the Omega Research Foundation1 to the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) in view of its consideration of the Draft Report on possible amendment of Appendices 1 and 3 to Committee of Ministers Recommendation CM/Rec(2021)2 on measures against the trade in goods used for the death penalty, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and on the possibility of introducing a simplified amendment procedure for Appendix 2.

Ahead of the 4 September meeting between Austria, Denmark, Germany, Greece and the Netherlands to discuss progress on plans to deport people to so-called “return hubs” in countries outside Europe where they may never have set foot, likely be to centres or facilities funded by EU member states, Eve Geddie, Director of the European Institutions Office of Amnesty International, said:

Dear President von der Leyen,

Dear High Representative/Vice-President Kallas,

While the EU recently elevated its relationship with Viet Nam to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, civic space within Viet Nam continues to shrink. This repression is no longer contained within Viet Nam’s borders. Recent high-level state visits between Thai and Vietnamese authorities have signaled a dangerous tightening of bilateral security cooperation, extending beyond legitimate security objectives and encompassing the illegitimate targeting of individuals for political reasons. By strengthening the means for transnational repression (TNR), Viet Nam is acting in breach of those commitments and of its legal obligations under international human rights law. The EU should insist on compliance with those commitments and heed the calls repeatedly formulated by the European Parliament on TNR.

Amnesty International urges the European Union (EU) institutions and member states to abandon Afghanistan deportation plans and end any readmission cooperation with Taliban de facto authorities.  

Amnesty International is presenting this submission to the European Commission ahead of the preparation of its 2026 Enlargement Package. It details Amnesty International’s human rights concerns and outlines key recommendations that the EU should prioritize in the framework of Serbia’s EU accession process as well as any other ongoing engagement with the authorities. 

Dear Members of the European Parliament,  

Dear President von der Leyen,

To the attn. of:Mr Mihai Popșoi, Chairperson of the Committee of MinistersMinisters of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of Justice of Council of Europe member States Permanent Representatives to the Council of EuropeMr Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of EuropeMs Petra Bayr, President of the Parliamentary AssemblyMr Mattias Guyomar, President of the European Court of Human RightsMr Michael O’Flaherty, Commissioner for Human Rights

As we mark four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and 12 years since its initial military intervention, Amnesty International issued the following letter to High Representative Kallas and EU Foreign Ministers, outlining our key calls to the European Union and its member states.

Ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council on 23 February 2026, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) wrote to High Representative Kaja Kallas and EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs, urging them to act for civilians caught in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).