Brussels, 27/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 27 April a new mechanism for anchoring a “culture of fundamental rights” in European legislation at the moment the European Parliament is discussing the report by Fine Gael MEP Simon Coveney on human rights in the world and the EU's policy on protecting human rights. This mechanism (which we will be returning to) is based on a systematic verification process of European legislation since the preparatory phase, in order to guarantee that the legislative proposals are compatible with the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. This examination will be overseen by a new group of European Commissioners for fundamental rights, the fight against discrimination and equal opportunities.
During the debate the president of the Council Nicolas Schmit exclaimed that the Charter of Fundamental Rights (inserted into the European Constitution: Editor's note) makes the defence of democratic principles obligatory throughout the world. He also highlighted the need to work towards “settling conflicts which are a source of distain for human beings”. The Council will take into account Mr Coveney's observation, explained Mr Schmit who commented on the “catastrophic catalogue of human rights violations” listed by the rapporteur. Schmit underlined the importance of dialogue with the EU and third countries on the subject of human rights and the regular assessment of this dialogue. He cited the case of China (“human rights are not a luxury for developed or rich countries and have to accompany economic development”), Russia (respect for human rights is “a key element in the four spaces” and called for it to be put into place in Russia and the EU, Iran (at this very moment, the EU Troika was discussing ways for getting the dialogue on human rights going again with Tehran announced Mr Schmit. In the context of fighting terrorism while respecting human rights, Schmit underlined that this would mean a “question of morality and efficiency” and that those who agreed to weaken these rights were giving in to the “terrible blackmail of terrorism”. Schmit raised the issue of children's rights and hostage taking, as well as the setting up of the Agency for Fundamental Freedoms. He pointed out that the decision to transform the Vienna Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia into an EU agency for human rights was taken in 2003 and that since then there had been extensive public consultation on the subject. Schmit addressed those who feared a duplication of tasks, explaining that they would never be too many in tackling issue of human rights even if they obviously had to stop any waste in resources.
Speaking for the European Commission, Joaquin Almunia highlighted children's rights, especially those involved in armed conflicts. He said that this was a problem that they would regularly be tackling in their dialogue with third countries. He pointed out that the Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner mentioned the issue last March in Sri Lanka. In the context of human rights defence organisations, Alumina said that their “collective conscience was a source of vital information”. He provided assurances of the Commission's support (which is borne out in the EU budget, he pointed out). The Commissioner also highlighted the vital role of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which, he said, was based on three principles: universality (he explained that they were campaigning in the whole world for all countries to support the Rome statutes and they were delighted that 77 ACP countries had decided to give their support) proving integrity in the face of adversity from some countries (in this connection Almunia denounced the “bilateral agreements on impunity”, alluding to the USA and its complentarity in relation to other existing mechanisms. EUROPE will return to this subject on Thursday.