Brussels, 11/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 11 December, the members of the European Parliament called on the European institutions and the member states to adopt a “firm, consistent approach to violations of human rights at international level”.
In its adoption (588 votes to 34, with 67 abstentions) of the “epic” report by Eduard Kukan (EPP, Slovakia), the EP calls for the EU to speak with one voice against persistent human rights violations. Stronger coordination of European policy between the institutions and the member states is required, the Parliament argues. It calls on the Foreign Affairs Council to hold an annual public debate on human rights. It also urges the Special Representative for Human Rights to increase the visibility, integration, coherence, uniformity and effectiveness of European human rights policy. The MEPs call on the High Representative, the Special Representative for Human Rights and the EEAS to include human rights and democracy in the EU's relations with its partners, “including at the highest political level”. They recommend the inclusion of “legally binding and non-negotiable clauses” on human rights in international agreements concluded with third countries and take the view that these clauses should be systematically included in trade agreements. (CG/transl.fl)