On Wednesday 15 January, the European Parliament called on the European Union to make its defence of human rights and democracy in the world more effective.
The report by Isabel Wiseler-Lima (EPP, Luxembourg) on 'Human rights and democracy in the world and the EU's policy on the matter' in 2018, adopted by MEPs (496 votes in favour, 113 against and 103 abstentions), calls on the Commission and Member States to adopt a new Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy for the next five years “that is ambitious, comprehensive and binding” and to include an ambitious strategy to combat impunity. According to MEPs, all human rights challenges, such as digital, environmental, elderly, sport and migrants' rights, must be adequately addressed in this future plan.
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy could present this new plan in mid-March.
According to MEPs, this action plan must be accompanied by a strong monitoring mechanism to assess its implementation and impact. “Member States must take greater ownership of the action plan and report on its implementation” they add, also hoping that the Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights can participate in the future plan and in monitoring its implementation.
MEPs call on all Member States to comply strictly with the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports regarding surveillance and intelligence equipment. They also call for the acceleration of discussions on the creation of a horizontal European regime of targeted sanctions against persons complicit in serious human rights violations. In addition, in their view, the EU should have a special representative for international humanitarian law and international justice.
See the report: http://bit.ly/2Nz4CwO Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)