The meeting discussed the challenges and next steps related to the protection of human rights defenders in the EU — both for those from EU Member States and those relocated to the EU from non-EU countries.
For defenders arriving from outside the EU, visas can serve as an important protection tool. However, even once in the EU, they may continue to face significant risks, particularly in the form of transnational repression. At present, only a few Member States have police protocols in place to address this effectively.
Participants noted that defenders and activists operating within the EU also face a serious protection gap. They called on policymakers to ensure that the forthcoming EU Civil Society Strategy includes a commitment to establishing an EU-wide internal protection mechanism that would enable defenders to report attacks, trigger an institutional response, and access dedicated protection tools and resources. In a few Member States, civil society networks are already piloting so-called ‘protection hubs’, which provide legal advice, psychological support, and digital security assistance.
The meeting brought together civil society organisations working on civic space and protection inside and outside the EU, representatives of EU institutions and international organisations, donor organisations, and Member State representatives.