Brussels, 19/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - In addition to its conclusions on human rights in China (see other article), the General Affairs Council on 19 March adopted more general conclusions on the European Union's policy on human rights. It reaffirms, as did the European Council of Vienna in December 1998, that the promotion of human rights is a cornerstone of EU foreign policy. According to the conclusions:
- The Council takes stock of ongoing initiatives, and above all of the preparation of EU guidelines against torture, which will "add to the already existing guidelines on the death penalty and create a new instrument for the EU in its relations with third countries".
- The Council notes that the Commission had prepared a communication on electoral assistance and observation, on which the Council will adopt conclusions shortly (see EUROPE of 14 March, p.5, on the European Parliament's vote on this subject). This communication and those announced by the Commission on human rights and democratisation and on conflict prevention will be a contribution to the EU Conference on Human Rights in the context of conflict prevention and resolution, to be held on 28 and 29 May. The Swedish Presidency has taken the initiative to organise this conference in order to strengthen further the Union's dialogue with the European Parliament and civil society and increase the coherence and transparency of the EU's human rights policy.
- The Council recalled, as the 57th annual session of the UN Commission on Human Rights is starting, that the EU will present to this session "a significant number of country and thematic initiatives" including the death penalty, children's rights and human rights in Iran, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, East Timor, Colombia, Burma/Myanmar, Chechnya and also as regards Israeli settlements in the Occupied Arab Territories.