17/10/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 16 October, the Foreign Affairs Council reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, according to a Council press release published after a debate in which ministers discussed how best human rights could be promoted in both bilateral and multilateral contexts. The Council adopted conclusions on the mid-term review of the action plan on human rights and democracy. It also adopted its annual report on human rights and democracy in the world in 2016 which details the situation in all the countries of the globe. Ahead of the debate, several European sources had complained that the discussions on human rights in third countries were becoming ever more difficult among the 28 member states. (CG)