Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002295/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Brando Benifei (S&D), Sophie Wilmès (Renew), Rasmus Andresen (Verts/ALE), Francisco Assis (S&D), Dan Barna (Renew), Wouter Beke (PPE), Benoit Cassart (Renew), Olivier Chastel (Renew), Elio Di Rupo (S&D), Daniel Freund (Verts/ALE), Giorgio Gori (S&D), Sandro Gozi (Renew), Maria Grapini (S&D), Evin Incir (S&D), Merja Kyllönen (The Left), Sergey Lagodinsky (Verts/ALE), Murielle Laurent (S&D), Camilla Laureti (S&D), Nathalie Loiseau (Renew), Idoia Mendia (S&D), Ana Miranda Paz (Verts/ALE), Alessandra Moretti (S&D), Ciaran Mullooly (Renew), Ştefan Muşoiu (S&D), Dario Nardella (S&D), Leoluca Orlando (Verts/ALE), Pina Picierno (S&D), André Rodrigues (S&D), Virginijus Sinkevičius (Verts/ALE), Jonas Sjöstedt (The Left), Dario Tamburrano (The Left), Marco Tarquinio (S&D), Carla Tavares (S&D), Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D), Kim Van Sparrentak (Verts/ALE), Maria Walsh (PPE), Alessandro Zan (S&D), Elisabeth Grossmann (S&D), Michał Szczerba (PPE), Lucia Yar (Renew), Nicola Zingaretti (S&D), Giuseppe Lupo (S&D), Sandro Ruotolo (S&D), Raffaele Topo (S&D), Lucia Annunziata (S&D), Antonio Decaro (S&D)
US President Donald Trump has announced a suspension of several student visa categories for foreign nationals, including those from EU Member States. The US State Department has recently halted student visa interviews for foreign applicants while it implements new procedures to screen their social media activity, a move that raises serious concerns about privacy, fundamental rights and potential discrimination. These unilateral actions undermine academic exchange, mutual understanding and the right of young Europeans to access global education opportunities. They also set a dangerous precedent of profiling and digital surveillance, which runs counter to democratic values and the rule of law.
In light of these developments:
- 1.Does the Commission consider the US decision compatible with international commitments on human rights, academic freedom and data protection?
- 2.What steps has the Commission taken to ensure that EU students are not subject to discriminatory practices or privacy violations under these measures?
- 3.How does the Commission intend to respond to this unilateral and disproportionate decision, and what actions will it take to defend the rights of young Europeans seeking to study abroad?
Submitted: 6.6.2025