JAVIER ZARZALEJOS MEETS WITH THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

The Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Javier Zarzalejos, held a meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) at the European Parliament, focused on strengthening cooperation between the two institutions in areas of shared interest.

During the meeting, Zarzalejos underlined the convergence between the priorities of the LIBE Committee and the mandate of the OHCHR, particularly with regard to the rule of law, the protection of civic space, fundamental rights, asylum and migration, equality, and digital rights.

He also highlighted the added value that more structured cooperation between LIBE and the Office of the High Commissioner could bring, especially through the Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group (DRFMG).

The Chair of LIBE addressed the importance of maintaining rule-of-law conditionality in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034), as well as the key role played by European programs supporting civil society, independent media, and human rights defenders.

In this context, he emphasized the importance of the AgoraEU program and the new EU Civil Society Strategy as essential instruments for strengthening democratic resilience.

Zarzalejos also referred to the monitoring carried out by the LIBE Committee of the rule of law situation in the Member States, including recent work and missions by the European Parliament, and highlighted the contribution that the OHCHR can make to the European Commission’s annual Rule of Law Report, which is currently in the consultation phase for its 2026 edition.

With regard to asylum and migration, the Chair of LIBE noted that legislative work related to the Migration and Asylum Pact is in its final phase and stressed the need to ensure its full implementation in line with international human rights standards, particularly with respect to returns, detention, and the protection of vulnerable persons.

The meeting also addressed challenges related to equality and non-discrimination, as well as the implications of the Digital Omnibus package, including artificial intelligence and data protection, highlighting the need to preserve a high level of fundamental rights protection during the process of regulatory simplification.

Finally, Javier Zarzalejos thanked the High Commissioner for his commitment to the European Parliament and reaffirmed the LIBE Committee’s willingness to deepen cooperation, information-sharing, and strategic coordination with the Office of the OHCHR.