Brussels, 09/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - European Parliament (EP) rapporteur on the EU Special Representative for Human Rights Laima Liucija Andrikiene (EPP, Lithuania) presented her recommendations for the post on Tuesday 8 May. She says the representative should increase the coherence, effectiveness and visibility of the EU in protecting and promoting human rights and democracy, and, for this to be so, the representative has to be someone with a proven high-level track record, comfortable taking part in the relevant meetings of the United Nations and regional assemblies and chairing high-level human-rights dialogues and consultations with third countries. The representative will be required to work closely with EU delegations and to cooperate with NGOs, international organisations and experts.
Andrikiene said too, that, while the Special Representative will come under the authority of the EU high representative, the post must have a strong, independent and flexible mandate, not confined to narrow thematic responsibilities but allowing strong, effective action to be taken. She proposes a two-year or two-and-a-half year term of office, renewable only once, to ensure some degree of continuity. “There is no desire for human rights to be 'ghetto-ised' in a corner of European policy, but for them to be at the very heart of foreign policy. It all depends on the person who is appointed to the post. It has to be someone strong, direct, straight-talking and honest” said Rui Tavares (Greens/EFA, Portugal).
Andrikiene says the representative should be well qualified for the job and have long human-rights experience. Her fellow countryman Leonidas Donskis (ALDE) said that the representative must be more than someone well-known and trusted within the EU: he/she must also be acquainted with international law and international justice. Tavares added that the person appointed must be given the resources to be able to fulfil his/her task. The new Representative must be provided with the technical expertise needed, people who will be able to liaise with NGOs. He said the representative would, in addition, have to report regularly to the Parliament and inform it regularly of any measures he/she planned.
The recommendations for the post of Special Representative for Human Rights will be put to the vote in the EP foreign affairs committee on 24 May. The representative is expected to be appointed by the Council, voting by qualified majority at the end of June. (CG/transl.rt)