Neena Gill (S&D). – Mr President, Sudan ranks 174th out of 180 in terms of press freedom. This gives you a clear idea of the context in which journalist Mohamed Zine al-Abidine and his editor-in-chief are facing charges for criticising alleged corruption in the family of the Sudanese President al-Bashir, a president who has escaped justice for organising war crimes and crimes against humanity. These journalists are not alone in facing repression. The Sudanese intelligence agency has been waging an actual war on freedom of information and expression for years. There is no hope for democracy if these basic values continue to be threatened.

My main concern is that the EU gives EUR 100 million in aid to Sudan on migration. We need to ensure that not a euro is diverted to fund surveillance and IT systems that could assist in repression of journalists and media. I think that the High Representative, the Commission and Member States need to step up support to civil society that can help and reform press and printing legislation.