Strasbourg, 14/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 13 June, MEPs adopted their recommendations to the Council on the EU Special Representative for Human Rights (see EUROPE 10632). In the report of Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra (EPP, Spain) which adopted by a very large majority (567 for, 32 against, with 80 abstentions), MEPs underlined that the representative, with a mandate for two and a half year and speaking on behalf of the EU, should help to increase the profile, efficiency, coherency and accountability of European policy in the field of human rights. The representative must have a “strong, independent and flexible” mandate, with a scope covering issues such as the enhancement of democracy, the rule of law and institution building, as well as international justice and international humanitarian rules.
MEPs explained that the representative must work in close cooperation with the EU high representative for foreign affairs, the European External Action Service and EU delegations, as well of international organisations, NGOs and experts working in the field of human rights. The representative will be “a high level interlocutor” with his/her counterparts from non-EU countries and international organisations. The EU special representative should also be able to benefit from appropriate financial and human resources in order to guarantee effective work.
The Parliament explained that it wanted to play “its role” in the procedures for appointing and monitoring the entirety of the representative's mandate. It would therefore like to hold a hearing for the representative before the definitive appointment by the Council, and for the future representative to present the Parliament with an annual progress report and detailed update at the end of each mandate.
The representative is expected to be appointed by the Foreign Affairs Council on 25 June. (CG/transl.fl)