Changes between two versions
What changed between the resolution motion and the resolution motion joint
AI:What changed, in short
The resolution now condemns the arrest of Sansal and other activists, calls for their release, and urges a medical mission.123 It also calls for review of repressive laws and links EU funding to progress on rule of law.45 The other changes are formal: updated numbering and references.1234
5 changes of substance · 0 formal · 0 of wording only
Written by AI from the two texts only · read the changes before relying on it · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem
Changes to the text itself, in document order. Cover page, citations and punctuation-only edits are left out; they are under “Every difference”.
Changes of substance · 5
Change 1 Substance
AI summary:Adds new recitals detailing Sansal's arrest, Algeria's human rights commitments, press freedom decline, and EU funding, and adds a new paragraph condemning his arrest.
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Added:A. whereas on 16 November 2024 the Algerian authorities arrested French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who had publicly taken a robust stance against the authoritarian regime, calling for freedom of expression in Algeria; whereas his whereabouts remained unknown for over a week, during which time he was denied access to his family and legal counsel, contrary to international law; whereas Sansal was interrogated without his lawyer, violating his right to a fair trial; whereas he was subsequently charged with national security-related offences under Article 87bis of the Algerian Penal Code, a provision frequently used against government critics, including human rights defenders; whereas Sansal has been hospitalised several times;
Added:B. whereas Algeria is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; whereas Algeria has undertaken to respect and promote freedom of expression in full compliance with its international obligations, the EU-Algeria partnership priorities, and its Constitution; whereas new amendments to the Penal Code were adopted in 2024 imposing significant restrictions on freedom of expression;
Removed:A. whereas Boualem Sansal, a French-Algerian author, publicly took robust stances against authoritarianism and in favour of the freedom of expression in Algeria; whereas he was taken into custody in Algiers since 16 November 2024 on charges of undermining the integrity of the national territory; whereas this charge is considered as an act of terrorism under article 87 bis of the Algerian penal code; whereas he faces life imprisonment if found guilty of these charges;
Added:C. whereas freedom of expression in Algeria has deteriorated, with the country falling to 139th place on the 2024 World Press Freedom Index; whereas journalists have been placed under increasing pressure and are often detained and prosecuted; whereas at least 215 people are being held in Algeria as prisoners of opinion, according to Algerian human rights defenders; whereas censorship, trials and harsh punishment of independent media, often accused of colluding with foreign powers against national security, continue to increase;
Removed:B. whereas Algeria is a Party to the UDHR; whereas Algeria is a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the period 2023-2025; whereas Algeria committed respecting and promoting the freedom of expression in full compliance with its international obligations and its Constitution; whereas Algeria modified in 2024 provisions of its penal code with the aim to further restrict the freedom of expression;
Added:D. whereas between 2021 and 2024 the EU disbursed EUR 213 million to Algeria under the Multiannual Indicative Programme;
Removed:C. whereas since the 2019 Hirak protests, Algeria’s authorities have substantially clamped down on freedom of expression and media freedom; whereas Algerian Human Rights activists, defenders and journalists are imprisoned for exercising their rights;
Added:1. Condemns the arrest and detention of Boualem Sansal and calls for his immediate and unconditional release;
Change 2 Substance
AI summary:Replaces a call for Sansal's release with a condemnation of arrests of all activists and a call for their release, including named individuals.
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Changed:1.2. CallsEqually oncondemns Algerianthe authoritiesarrests toof immediatelyall andother unconditionallyactivists, releasepolitical Boualemprisoners, Sansaljournalists, andhuman allrights thosedefenders and others detained andor chargedsentenced for exercising their rightsright to freedom of expressionopinion orand opinion,expression, including journalist Abdelwakil Blamm and writer Tadjadit Mohamed;Mohamed, and calls for their release;
Change 3 Substance
AI summary:Drops a paragraph calling for charges to be dropped and adds a paragraph urging EU institutions to share concerns and organize a medical mission.
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Removed:2. Calls on the Algerian authorities to close the case and drop the charges against Boualem Sansal and the Algerian journalists, including Abdelwakil Blamm, human rights defenders and peaceful activists facing threat, judicial harassment and prosecution for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly and media freedoms;
Added:3. Urges the EU institutions and the EU Delegation to publicly share their concerns with the Algerian authorities, and to organise a medical mission to assess Sansal’s health;
Change 4 Substance
AI summary:Replaces a paragraph expressing concern about repression with a call to review repressive laws, citing specific articles and constitutional article.
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Changed:3.4. ExpressesCalls itson concernsthe aboutAlgerian theauthorities trendto ofreview increasingall repressionrepressive oflaws peacefulrestricting dissentfreedoms, in Algeria;particular reiteratesArticles its87bis, calls95bis toand the196bis Algerianof authoritiesAlgeria’s toPenal respectCode, and upholdthe fundamentaljudiciary’s freedoms,independence, includingin order to protect the freedom of expression andthe opinionpress as enshrined in Article 4154 of Algeria’s Constitution and in full compliance with the UDHR and the ICCPR that Algeria ratified;Constitution;
1 more change of substance
Change 5 Substance
AI summary:Drops paragraphs urging review of laws and supporting civil society, adds a paragraph on rule of law and EU funds, and adds a final instruction.
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Removed:4. Urges the Algerian authorities to review all repressive laws aiming at restricting the freedoms, in particular the Article 87bis of Algeria’s Penal Code, and the judiciary’s independence;
Added:5. Reiterates, as enshrined in the EU-Algeria Partnership Priorities, the importance of the rule of law in order to consolidate freedom of expression; stresses that renewing this agreement must be based upon continued and substantial progress in the aforementioned domains and underscores that all future disbursements of EU funds should consider the progress made in this regard;
Removed:5. Calls on the Algerian authorities to guarantee to the civil society organisations the freedom to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without undue restriction and fear of reprisal;
Added:6. Instructs its President to have this resolution translated into Arabic and forwarded to the Algerian Authorities, the Commission and the VP/HR.
Removed:6. Urge the EU Institutions and the EU Delegation to publicly share their concerns and raise the case of Boualem Sansal and all those arbitrarily detained with the Algerian authorities; urges the EU Institutions to increase their support to human rights defenders, democracy activists and journalists;