Widespread use of violence by the police in France
8.12.2020
Question for written answer E-006692/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Manuel Bompard (GUE/NGL), Manon Aubry (GUE/NGL), Leila Chaibi (GUE/NGL), Younous Omarjee (GUE/NGL), Anne-Sophie Pelletier (GUE/NGL)
In the past two years, the number of instances of the police in France acting with undue violence have shot up. Already in 2019, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe was said to be ‘extremely concerned’ about the violence used in tackling the yellow vest protesters.[1]. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights also expressed its concerns over the ‘excessive use of force’.[2].
Several events where unprecedented violence was employed in recent days (Place de la République, Michel Zecler case…) just confirm that use of violence is becoming more widespread amongst the police. Journalists and members of the public must, therefore, be allowed to gather evidence of these instances of police violence by filming and publishing them, something the French Government wants to ban through the ‘global security’ law. This draft law has been condemned by the United Nations Council of Human Rights[3] and is causing the Commission anxiety.
Parliament has spoken out on many occasions to condemn violence of this kind and threats to the rule of law, including within the EU.[4][5][6].
Does the Commission consider the draft ‘global security’ law and police practices in France to be compatible with the rule of law and the values of the European Union as laid down in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union?
- [1] Council of Europe, ‘Memorandum on maintaining public order and freedom of assembly in the context of the “yellow vest” movement in France’, 2019.
- [2] UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, ‘France: UN experts denounce severe rights restrictions on “gilets jaunes” protesters’, 2019.
- [3] UN Human Rights Council, ‘Mandates of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism’, 2020.
- [4] European Parliament resolution of 14 February 2019 on the right to peaceful protest and the proportionate use of force.
- [5] European Parliament resolution of 19 June 2020 on the anti-racism protests following the death of George Floyd.
- [6] European Parliament resolution of 13 November 2020 on the impact of COVID-19 measures on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights.