Brussels, 08/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - In a joint resolution from all political groups (except IND-DEM and ITS) adopted on Thursday, the European Parliament scrutinises the work of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). MEPs welcome the organisation of special meetings on crisis response but express concern about the “failure of the HRC to take action to address many of the world's most urgent human rights situations”. They call for more transparent procedures, mainly deploring the “weakness of the HRC resolution on Darfur”, as well as the fact that examination of complaints on human rights violations in Iran and Uzbekistan have been broken off. In addition to revision of the procedures and mechanisms based on independent expertise and on objective and reliable information, MEPs note that the HRC agenda should marry flexibility with predictability to respond to emerging human rights crises. They recognise “the active involvement of the EU and its member states in the first year of work of the HRC”, arguing in favour of more effective use of its aid and political support in order to encourage third countries to cooperate with the United Nations body. (ab)