G20 Summit protests

19.12.2017

Question for written answer E-007842-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Miriam Dalli (S&D)

The 2017 G20 Summit in Hamburg saw scenes of violence between heavily armed police and activists from around Europe, including climate activists and anti-poverty campaigners, with many campaigners ending up hospitalised.

Classifying individuals as ‘Extremist Left Wing’, the police used geolocation data and facial recognition software.

At the same time, the European Court of Human Rights has found that the failure of a state to carry out effective investigations to protect its citizens, and tourists, from violent attacks is a breach of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights — with excessive use of force by the police being specifically flagged up by the courts.

1. Has the Commission been in contact with the German authorities in order to obtain more information with regard to the allegations of excessive force used by the German police throughout the summit?

2. Is the Commission satisfied that, in view of the allegations of excessive force, Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights has not been breached?