The European Parliament's human rights sub-committee questions the impact of the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union on international agreements.
According to the sub-committee, the approach taken by the UK to human rights could have an impact on the agreements currently being negotiated, or that could be negotiated, between the EU and third countries – an impact that is nevertheless expected to be limited. The format of the clauses on human rights in the UK's bilateral agreements could, for example, be used as a reference for third countries.
The sub-committee is especially concerned about the negotiations on the successor to the Cotonou Agreement. It is also worried that the formalisation in the legal acts of the UK's withdrawal, which must be ratified by all the partner countries, could be the opportunity, for some of these partner countries, to ask for a renegotiation of specific controversial clauses.
The sub-committee hopes that the EU and the UK will continue to cooperate in terms of sanctions linked to the violation of human rights, the rule of law and democracy. If not, these measures, like the embargoes and financial sanctions, will lose their impact and influence. The sub-committee would also like London's alignment with the EU's policy on torture equipment, dual-use goods and weapons exports.
As regards the legislative files, it is only the review of the European instrument for democracy and human rights that might suffer the impact of Brexit, more in terms of budget cuts than regarding thematic priorities.
See: http://bit.ly/2kdolkc (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)