MEP Susanna Ceccardi (Patriots for Europe) has asked the EU's foreign policy chief to take diplomatic action to protect an Italian citizen and her three-year-old daughter who are detained in Egypt, in a case highlighting cross-border family law and women's rights vulnerabilities.
Ceccardi submitted a priority parliamentary question on 18 May 2026 to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative, Kaja Kallas. The MEP describes the case of Nessy Guerra, an Italian from Sanremo who has been in Egypt for over three years. According to her lawyer, Guerra was recently convicted on appeal for adultery and sentenced to six months in prison. Guerra also reports threats from her former spouse and precarious living conditions with her daughter, who is subject to a travel ban until age 18 amid a custody dispute.
The question asks whether the High Representative is aware of the case and what diplomatic tools she will use with Egyptian authorities to ensure the rights of Guerra and her daughter are upheld. Ceccardi also asks whether the EU should strengthen protection for women and children in cross-border family contexts.
This is a written parliamentary question under Rule 144, meaning the Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal the EU's policy stance on consular protection and women's rights in third countries.
Stakeholders impacted include the Italian citizen and her daughter, whose fundamental rights are at stake; the Egyptian authorities, who may face diplomatic pressure; the EU's foreign policy arm, which must balance human rights advocacy with bilateral relations; and EU citizens abroad, who rely on consular protection in family law disputes.