Brussels, 13/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 13 December, the European Parliament called for the EU institutions to be able have procedures allowing an agreement to be challenged on the basis of a factual assessment of the human rights situation and of its development in partner countries. By adopting the report by Rui Tavares (Greens/EFA, Portugal) on the EU's strategy on human rights, the MEPs consider that it is essential to define - for each country - priorities, realistic objectives and political leverage opportunities to allow more effective action and measurable results in the area of human rights.
The Parliament recommends that the EU adopt a list of essential points which the member states and European institutions should tackle with their counterparts in third countries. In the framework of an EU action plan for human rights and democracy, the Parliament recommends that High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton create a mechanism of operational application, so as to make the clause on human rights and democracy tangible.
The MEPs want an early warning system in the clause, based on dialogue. They would like the revision to equally assess the role, the mandate and the objectives of dialogues and consultations on human rights, which should be considered and formulated differently. (CG/transl.fl)