Brussels, 14/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU is looking to further assist those countries which are committed to democracy, said EU High Representative Catherine Ashton at the European Parliament on Tuesday 13 December. “The events of this year have served to highlight the vital links between human rights and democracy. This has led to a new approach for the EU, which aims to provide greater support to partners engaged in building 'deep democracy'”, she told MEPs.
She identified four main priority areas for action. The first is “overhauling the EU's delivery mechanisms”. “I want to make our policy more effective, adapting it better to the specific circumstances of each country coupled with a global campaign based approach”, Ashton said, stating that strengthening of relations with civil society was a key element here. Secondly, she wants a joined-up approach in EU policies, with human rights running as a silver thread through a truly integrated range of external policies. The third priority is building strong partnerships, encompassing the whole world, working multilaterally, regionally and bilaterally. Lastly, she calls for the EU to speak as one - that is, delivering a coordinated and consistent message, ensuring that the “invaluable” work of the European Parliament and EU member states “is brought together to the benefit of the whole”.
She says the components of this “deep democracy” are effective freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of religion or belief, under-pinned by impartial justice. (CG/transl.rt)