A group of Spanish MEPs from the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group, led by Leire Pajín, has called on the EU to take stronger action against the Nicaraguan regime's systematic confiscation of assets from opponents, journalists, and human rights defenders. In a parliamentary question submitted on 2 July 2026, the MEPs urged the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative to propose measures to end transnational repression and ensure the return of seized property, extend EU sanctions to those benefiting from confiscations, and issue guidance to European companies on the legal risks of acquiring such assets.
The question highlights that since 2018, and especially since 2023, the Ortega and Murillo regime has pursued a policy of confiscating assets, which the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua has confirmed as part of a deliberate strategy of transnational repression. Press investigations indicate that confiscated goods are being sold or transferred to regime sympathisers and public institutions, compounding the plunder and creating legal uncertainty for third-party purchasers.
The MEPs' concrete asks include extending EU sanctions to individuals who order, carry out, or personally benefit from these confiscations, and issuing guidance to European companies and investors on the legal risks of acquiring or exploiting arbitrarily confiscated assets in Nicaragua. The question also calls for measures to return property to its rightful owners.
The European External Action Service is expected to respond within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal the EU's policy direction on sanctions and engagement with Nicaragua, potentially affecting EU businesses and investors exposed to assets linked to the regime. The MEPs' initiative reflects growing concern among EU lawmakers over human rights abuses in Nicaragua and the need for stronger EU action to deter transnational repression.