Ahead of the European Parliament hearing on the aftermath of the Pylos shipwreck and reports of continued violence at the Greek Sea borders, Adriana Tidona, Amnesty International’s Migration Researcher, said:

Reacting to announcement of the political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on the Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office, Eve Geddie said:   

Following certain governments’ alarming decisions to suspend funding to the United Nations Work and Relief Agency (UNRWA), Amnesty International wrote to leaders of EU member states, to High Representative Borrell and to European Commissioner for Crisis Management Lenarčič, urging them to ensure that the EU and your governments do not suspend funding to UNRWA and continue publicly supporting UNRWA and its essential mission in view of the risk of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

On 24 January, as final negotiations on the EU Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence are taking place, Amnesty International and 11 other NGOs called on negotiators to take effective action and ensure that a robust Directive is urgently adopted.

Ahead of the EU-Egypt Association Council today (23 January 2024), European leaders must ensure that respect for human rights is at the core of all ties with Egypt. Amnesty International’s Head of the European Institutions Office and Advocacy Director, Eve Geddie said:  

Ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 January, Amnesty International wrote to High Representative / Vice President Josep Borrell Fontelles and EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs, to share our analysis and recommendations for their discussion on the situation in the Middle East.

Dear Prime Minister De Croo,

Reforms agreed today by the EU on the Pact on Migration and Asylum will set European asylum law back for decades to come and lead to greater human suffering, said Amnesty International.

In a joint letter to the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council, the incoming Belgian Presidency of the EU Council, Vice President Vera Jourová and Commissioner Didier Reynders, Amnesty International, CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties), Equinox: Initiative for Racial Justice, EuroMed Rights, European Civic Forum (ECF), and European Network Against Racism express concerns over restrictions on peaceful assembly and expression, in particular against people and organisations expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Reacting to the EU reaching an agreement today on new business human rights legislation called the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), Amnesty International’s Policy Advisor on Business and Human Rights, Hannah Storey said:

Authorities Need to Learn Lessons to Avert Future Deaths at Sea

Ahead of negotiations on a European corporate accountability law 15 organizations, including Amnesty International, issued an urgent appeal to EU Commissioner Reynders to fulfil his promise for an ambitious CSDDD including strong climate ambition, inclusion of the financial sector, strong measures on access to justice and full value chain coverage.