Brussels, 26/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The annual report on human rights in the European Union to be discussed in Strasbourg on 4 July is entitled "Report on the Situation on Fundamental Rights in the EU in 2000", thereby clearly stating the will of the rapporteur, Thierry Cornillet (French, UDF), to take the European Charter of Fundamental Rights as reference point (see EUROPE of 11/12 June, p.10, for a summary of the Wuori Report on human rights in the world). The 2001 annual report will be drawn up according to another method by a working party which will base itself on observations made by NGOs and networks of experts in cooperation with national parliaments.
Whereas Mr. Cornillet's draft resolution, approved by the Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights (20 in favour, 1 against, 2 abstentions) makes recommendations of a fairly general nature, the report's explanatory memorandum refers to reasons for concern in several member States, following cases of:
Police maltreatment in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Austria. The report cites the death of people arrested in identity controls and car chases by the police in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Britain, Portugal and Sweden and acts of brutality leading to the death of foreigners being expelled from Belgium and Austria, as well as acts of violence against detainees in Ireland, Britain, Spain and Italy.
Racist violence on the part of Belgian, French, German, Austrian and Greek police forces. Furthermore, the report underpins the difficulties for certain national minorities in Greece, Italy, Denmark and Finland, and the worrying situation of the Roma, especially in Italy and Greece, as well as in France and the United Kingdom.
Spread of photos of a child-pornography nature in France and Belgium.
Domestic slavery in France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Austria and the United Kingdom.
Discrimination in the employment of homosexuals. The Report notes that Ireland continues to impose restrictions on them for access to the army.
Working conditions in breach of a series of rules, notably concerning under15-year old child labour (Italy and the United Kingdom, and Finland and the Netherlands where children of school age may work nights), hygiene and safety in the workplace (in farming in Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands), length of warnings of redundancy (France, Italy, United Kingdom, Spain, Greece), right to strike for civil servants (Germany and Denmark).
Lack of health protection, notably in Belgium, Italy, Spain (AIDS, infant mortality) and Greece (tobacco addiction). In addition, workers in certain sectors have no right to maternity leave in the Netherlands and Austria.
Inadequate guarantees of access to fair justice, especially in Italy (takes too long), as well as Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands..
No respect of the rights objectors of conscience in Greece.