Source: European Parliament
Protecting EU citizens abroad, including those who may be imprisoned in non-EU countries, as well as the collection and provision of detailed information regarding the imprisonment of EU citizens in non-EU countries, falls within the exclusive competency of Member States.
At their request, the European External Action Service can support Member States in coordinating efforts to ensure the consular protection of unrepresented EU citizens, and may facilitate information sharing where possible, but it does not have the mandate to directly collect or disseminate such data.
Last updated: 27 June 2025