Brussels, 19/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - UK Conservative MEP Edward McMillan-Scott, Vice-President of the European Parliament stresses in a press release the need to better assure funding by the EU for initiatives to promote democracy and human rights, both in its “neighbourhood” and beyond. The European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights, launched in 1992 at the instigation of the European Parliament to contribute to the transformation of the former Soviet bloc, is financed by the Commission from budgetary lines for development cooperation and is heavily criticised, notably because is felt to be too bureaucratic, repeats Mr McMillan-Scott. Noting that some European governments would like the EU to do more in this field, he argues for an independent institution funded by the EU and private donations, under the oversight of the European and national parliaments, the Commission and the Council. Such an organisation would have the necessary flexibility and independence to react immediately to situations where democracy and human rights were threatened, he says. He goes on to say that he hoped to secure an agreement from the Commission and Council of Ministers for this idea now that there was consensus on the 2007-2013 financial perspective. “We live in a world in transition from which Europe is all too often absent. We need to look at a new strategy,” said Mr McMillan -Scott, concluding, “The Arab world presents a special challenge today which we must be prepared to meet. Our security depends on it: after all, the four London bombers came from my constituency, but they were motivated by events in the Middle East”.