On 19 October, the Commission and the High Representative put forward a joint proposal for a Council regulation concerning the implementation of restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide.(1)

The proposal advocates measures such as asset freezes and visa bans.

According to Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, this mechanism would give the EU greater flexibility to crack down on human rights violations and abuses, wherever they are committed and whoever the perpetrators.

The Commission is therefore suggesting that it be empowered to oversee the implementation of visa bans, which is a prerogative of the Member States.

Clearly, the European institutions intend to grant themselves powers in the area of human rights which vastly exceed those conferred upon them by the Member States under the treaties.

This power grab, which strips Member States of sovereign powers on the pretext of protecting human rights, is unacceptable.

How does the Commission justify unilaterally allocating itself new powers snatched from Member States?