BETA

Procedure completed



2012/2088(INI) EU Special Representative for Human Rights. Recommendation to the Council
RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AFET SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA José Ignacio (PPE)
Lead committee dossier: AFET/7/09468
Legal Basis RoP 011

Activites

  • 2012/06/13 Results of vote in Parliament
    • Results of vote in Parliament
    • T7-0250/2012 summary
  • 2012/06/12 Debate in Parliament
  • 2012/05/31 Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
    • A7-0174/2012 summary
  • 2012/05/24 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • 2012/05/10 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading

Documents

AmendmentsDossier
29 2012/2088(INI)
2012/05/16 AFET 29 amendments...
source: PE-489.532

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

activities
  • date: 2012-05-10T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2012-03-21T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE name: SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA José Ignacio
  • date: 2012-05-24T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2012-03-21T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE name: SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA José Ignacio
  • date: 2012-05-31T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-174&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A7-0174/2012 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • date: 2012-06-12T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20120612&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2012-06-13T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=21651&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-250 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0250/2012 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
date
2012-03-21T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA José Ignacio group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
committees/0
body
EP
responsible
True
committee
AFET
date
2012-03-21T00:00:00
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
rapporteur
group: PPE name: SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA José Ignacio
docs
  • date: 2012-05-08T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE489.344 title: PE489.344 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2012-05-16T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE489.532 title: PE489.532 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
events
  • date: 2012-05-10T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2012-05-24T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2012-05-31T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-174&language=EN title: A7-0174/2012 summary: The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report drafted by José Ignacio SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA (PPE, ES) containing a recommendation to the Council on the EU Special Representative for Human Rights. Members recall that Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union reaffirms the EU’s commitment to promoting human rights and democracy in all its external actions while guaranteeing coherence and consistency across these areas and between its external action and its other policies and that Article 33 of the TEU provides the legal basis for the appointment of the EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights. Given that the European Parliament has repeatedly called for the appointment of an EU Special Representative for Human Rights ( resolution of 16 December 2010 as well as its resolution of 18 April 2012 ), Members address, once again, a recommendation on the same issue. They recall that the EUSR for HR should strengthen the visibility and coherence of the EU’s Human Rights Policy as a fundamental part of its Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and contribute to raising the EU’s human rights profile worldwide. The committee addresses the following recommendations to the Council: Appointment and the role of the European Parliament in this context the appointment of the first ever thematic EUSR should enhance the visibility, effectiveness, coherence and accountability of the EU’s human rights policy ; the European Parliament should play its appropriate role in the appointment procedure and the oversight of the mandate during its entire term, this is why an exchange of views/hearing with the EUSR for HR nominated by the High Representative should take place in the relevant committee of the European Parliament. Mandate the implementation of the mandate and its consistency with other contributions from the Union in this domain should be kept under regular review; the EUSR HR should work in close cooperation with the Council Working Group on Human Rights (COHOM); the EUSR for HR should be a high-level interlocutor for his/her counterparts in third countries and at international organisations, also able to engage with the UN (UNGA, UNHRC, etc.) as well as relevant regional organisations (it should chair high-level human rights dialogues and lead the consultations with third countries on human rights issues); the EUSR should be granted a strong, independent and flexible mandate not defined by narrow and specific thematic responsibilities but rather allowing the EUSR to act swiftly and effectively; the Special Representative should also address different horizontal issues contributing to more effective and coherent action in EU external policies; the scope of the EUSR’s mandate should be fully in line with the principles of universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms and cover the strengthening of democracy, the rule of law and institution building, international justice and international humanitarian law; the mandate should include, inter alia, abolition of the death penalty , human rights defenders, the fight against impunity, the fight against torture, freedom of expression (including on the internet), of association, of assembly, of religion and of belief, minority rights, child protection, women’s rights, peace and security, gender issues, and the fight against discrimination in all its forms; Necessary professional qualifications the EUSR for HR should have the necessary professional qualifications, extensive experience and proven track record in the field of human rights, as well as personal and professional integrity and an international reputation; the Special Representative should be appointed for 2.5 years ( renewable ) ; the Parliament should be properly consulted in a timely manner during the renewal process; the EUSR for HR should work closely with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the President of the European Parliament to ensure coherence and mainstreaming of human rights across all policy areas in the work of all EU institutions; the EUSR should interact closely with the EEAS Human Rights and Democracy Directorate and all the multilateral EU delegations, as well as with all EU delegations in the world. Specific missions the EUSR for HR should regularly report to the relevant committee of the European Parliament on the situation of human rights in the world and the state of play of the implementation of the mandate; the Special Representative should cooperate with representatives of local, regional and national civil society, NGOs, experts, and regional and international organisations acting in the field of protection of human rights and democracy. Financial and human resources the EUSR for HR should be provided with adequate financial and human resources and the budget should be reviewed annually; the EUSR for HR should be responsible for constituting a team, the team may include seconded staff from Member States and EU institutions. The draft recommendation calls for a reference to be made to this recommendation adopted in plenary to be included in the future mandate of the EUSR for HR.
  • date: 2012-06-12T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20120612&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2012-06-13T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=21651&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2012-06-13T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-250 title: T7-0250/2012 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 567 votes to 32, with 80 abstentions, a recommendation to the Council on the EU Special Representative for Human Rights. Parliament recalls that Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union reaffirms the EU’s commitment to promoting human rights and democracy in all its external actions while guaranteeing coherence and consistency across these areas and between its external action and its other policies and that Article 33 of the TEU provides the legal basis for the appointment of the EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights. Given that the European Parliament has repeatedly called for the appointment of an EU Special Representative for Human Rights ( resolution of 16 December 2010 as well as its resolution of 18 April 2012 ), Parliament addresses, once again, a recommendation on the same issue. It recalls that the EUSR for HR should strengthen the visibility and coherence of the EU’s Human Rights Policy as a fundamental part of its Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and contributes to raising the EU’s human rights profile worldwide. Parliament addresses the following recommendations to the Council: Appointment and the role of the European Parliament in this context the appointment of the first ever thematic EUSR should enhance the visibility, effectiveness, coherence and accountability of the EU’s human rights policy ; the establishment of his/her mandate is formally a Council decision based on a proposal by the EU High Representative, the EUSR for HR should act and speak on behalf of the Union, reflecting the shared and indivisible responsibility of all EU institutions and Member States to protect and promote human rights worldwide; the European Parliament should play its appropriate role in the appointment procedure and the oversight of the mandate during its entire term, this is why an exchange of views/hearing with the EUSR for HR nominated by the High Representative should take place in the relevant committee of the European Parliament. Mandate the implementation of the mandate and its consistency with other contributions from the Union in this domain should be kept under regular review; the EUSR HR should work in close cooperation with the Council Working Group on Human Rights (COHOM); the EUSR for HR should be a high-level interlocutor for his/her counterparts in third countries and at international organisations, also able to engage with the UN (UNGA, UNHRC, etc.) as well as relevant regional organisations (it should chair high-level human rights dialogues and lead the consultations with third countries on human rights issues); the EUSR should be granted a strong, independent and flexible mandate not defined by narrow and specific thematic responsibilities but rather allowing the EUSR to act swiftly and effectively; the Special Representative should also address different horizontal issues contributing to more effective and coherent action in EU external policies; the scope of the EUSR’s mandate should be fully in line with the principles of universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms and cover the strengthening of democracy, the rule of law and institution building, international justice and international humanitarian law; the mandate should include, inter alia, abolition of the death penalty , human rights defenders, the fight against impunity, the fight against torture, freedom of expression (including on the internet), of association, of assembly, of religion and of belief, minority rights, child protection, women’s rights, peace and security, gender issues, and the fight against discrimination in all its forms; the mandate should include supporting the High Representative and the EU institutions in the promotion of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Necessary professional qualifications the EUSR for HR should have the necessary professional qualifications, extensive experience and proven track record in the field of human rights, as well as personal and professional integrity and an international reputation; the Special Representative should be appointed for 2.5 years ( renewable ) ; the Parliament should be properly consulted in a timely manner during the renewal process; the EUSR for HR should work closely with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the President of the European Parliament to ensure coherence and mainstreaming of human rights across all policy areas in the work of all EU institutions; the EUSR should interact closely with the EEAS Human Rights and Democracy Directorate and all the multilateral EU delegations, as well as with all EU delegations in the world. Specific missions the EUSR for HR should regularly report to the relevant committee of the European Parliament on the situation of human rights in the world and the state of play of the implementation of the mandate; the Special Representative should cooperate with representatives of local, regional and national civil society, NGOs, experts, and regional and international organisations acting in the field of protection of human rights and democracy. Financial and human resources the EUSR for HR should be provided with adequate financial and human resources and the budget should be reviewed annually; the EUSR for HR should be responsible for constituting a team, the team may include seconded staff from Member States and EU institutions. The recommendation calls for a reference to be made to this recommendation to be included in the mandate of the EUSR for HR.
  • date: 2012-06-13T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
links
other
    procedure/Modified legal basis
    Old
    Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
    New
    Rules of Procedure EP 150
    procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
    Old
    AFET/7/09468
    New
    • AFET/7/09468
    procedure/legal_basis/0
    Rules of Procedure EP 011
    procedure/legal_basis/0
    Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 011
    procedure/subject
    Old
    • 6.10.08 Fundamental freedoms, human rights, democracy in general
    • 6.10.09 Human rights situation in the world
    New
    6.10.08
    Fundamental freedoms, human rights, democracy in general
    6.10.09
    Human rights situation in the world
    procedure/title
    Old
    EU Special Representative for Human Rights. Recommendation to the Council
    New
    EU Special Representative for Human Rights. Recommendation to the Council
    activities/0
    body
    EP
    date
    2012-05-03T00:00:00
    type
    EP officialisation
    activities/0/committees/0/date
    Old
    • 2012-03-21T00:00:00
    • 2012-03-21T00:00:00
    New
    2012-03-21T00:00:00
    activities/0/committees/0/rapporteur/0
    group
    EPP
    name
    ANDRIKIENĖ Laima Liucija
    activities/0/committees/0/rapporteur/0/group
    Old
    EPP
    New
    PPE
    activities/0/committees/0/rapporteur/0/mepref
    Old
    4de1882f0fb8127435bdc2dc
    New
    4f1adaf5b819f207b300009d
    activities/1
    date
    2012-05-08T00:00:00
    docs
    url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE489.344 type: Committee draft report title: PE489.344
    body
    EP
    type
    Committee draft report
    activities/1/committees
    • body: EP responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2012-03-21T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE name: SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA José Ignacio
    activities/1/date
    Old
    2012-06-12T00:00:00
    New
    2012-05-24T00:00:00
    activities/1/type
    Old
    Debate in Parliament
    New
    Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
    activities/2/docs/0/text/0
    Old

    The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report drafted by José Ignacio SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA (PPE, ES) containing a recommendation to the Council on the EU Special Representative for Human Rights.

    Members recall that Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union reaffirms the EU’s commitment to promoting human rights and democracy in all its external actions while guaranteeing coherence and consistency across these areas and between its external action and its other policies and that Article 33 of the TEU provides the legal basis for the appointment of the EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights.

    Given that the European Parliament has repeatedly called for the appointment of an EU Special Representative for Human Rights (resolution of 16 December 2010 as well as its resolution of 18 April 2012), Members address, once again, a recommendation on the same issue.

    They recall that the EUSR for HR should strengthen the visibility and coherence of the EU’s Human Rights Policy as a fundamental part of its Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and contribute to raising the EU’s human rights profile worldwide.

    The committee addresses the following recommendations to the Council:

    Appointment and the role of the European Parliament in this context

    • the appointment of the first ever thematic EUSR should enhance the visibility, effectiveness, coherence and accountability of the EU’s human rights policy;
    • the European Parliament should play its appropriate role in the appointment procedure and the oversight of the mandate during its entire term, this is why an exchange of views/hearing with the EUSR for HR nominated by the High Representative should take place in the relevant committee of the European Parliament.

    Mandate

    • the implementation of the mandate and its consistency with other contributions from the Union in this domain should be kept under regular review;
    • the EUSR HR should work in close cooperation with the Council Working Group on Human Rights (COHOM); the EUSR for HR should be a high-level interlocutor for his/her counterparts in third  countries and at international organisations, also able to engage with the UN (UNGA, UNHRC, etc.) as well as relevant regional organisations (it should chair high-level human rights dialogues and lead the consultations with third countries on human rights issues);
    • the EUSR should be granted a strong, independent and flexible mandate not defined by narrow and specific thematic responsibilities but rather allowing the EUSR to act swiftly and effectively;
    • the Special Representative should also address different horizontal issues contributing to more effective and coherent action in EU external policies;
    • the scope of the EUSR’s mandate should be fully in line with the principles of universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms and cover the strengthening of democracy, the rule of law and institution building, international justice and international humanitarian law;
    • the mandate should include, inter alia, abolition of the death penalty, human rights defenders, the fight against impunity, the fight against torture, freedom of expression (including on the internet), of association, of assembly, of religion and of belief, minority rights, child protection, women’s rights, peace and security, gender issues, and the fight against discrimination in all its forms;

    Necessary professional qualifications

    • the EUSR for HR should have the necessary professional qualifications, extensive experience and proven track record in the field of human rights, as well as personal and professional integrity and an international reputation;
    • the Special Representative should be appointed for 2.5 years (renewable); the Parliament should be properly consulted in a timely manner during the renewal process;
    • the EUSR for HR should work closely with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the President of the European Parliament to ensure coherence and mainstreaming of human rights across all policy areas in the work of all EU institutions; the EUSR should interact closely with the EEAS Human Rights and Democracy Directorate and all the multilateral EU delegations, as well as with all EU delegations in the world.

    Specific missions

    • the EUSR for HR should regularly report to the relevant committee of the European Parliament on the situation of human rights in the world and the state of play of the implementation of the mandate;
    • the Special Representative should cooperate with representatives of local, regional and national civil society, NGOs, experts, and regional and international organisations acting in the field of protection of human rights and democracy.

    Financial and human resources

    • the EUSR for HR should be provided with adequate financial and human resources and the budget should be reviewed annually;
    • the EUSR for HR should be responsible for constituting a team, the team may include seconded staff from Member States and EU institutions.

    The draft recommendation calls for a reference to be made to this recommendation adopted in plenary to be included in the future mandate of the EUSR for HR.

    New

    The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report drafted by José Ignacio SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA (PPE, ES) containing a recommendation to the Council on the EU Special Representative for Human Rights.

    Members recall that Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union reaffirms the EU’s commitment to promoting human rights and democracy in all its external actions while guaranteeing coherence and consistency across these areas and between its external action and its other policies and that Article 33 of the TEU provides the legal basis for the appointment of the EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights.

    Given that the European Parliament has repeatedly called for the appointment of an EU Special Representative for Human Rights (resolution of 16 December 2010 as well as its resolution of 18 April 2012), Members address, once again, a recommendation on the same issue.

    They recall that the EUSR for HR should strengthen the visibility and coherence of the EU’s Human Rights Policy as a fundamental part of its Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and contribute to raising the EU’s human rights profile worldwide.

    The committee addresses the following recommendations to the Council:

    Appointment and the role of the European Parliament in this context

    • the appointment of the first ever thematic EUSR should enhance the visibility, effectiveness, coherence and accountability of the EU’s human rights policy;
    • the European Parliament should play its appropriate role in the appointment procedure and the oversight of the mandate during its entire term, this is why an exchange of views/hearing with the EUSR for HR nominated by the High Representative should take place in the relevant committee of the European Parliament.

    Mandate

    • the implementation of the mandate and its consistency with other contributions from the Union in this domain should be kept under regular review;
    • the EUSR HR should work in close cooperation with the Council Working Group on Human Rights (COHOM); the EUSR for HR should be a high-level interlocutor for his/her counterparts in third  countries and at international organisations, also able to engage with the UN (UNGA, UNHRC, etc.) as well as relevant regional organisations (it should chair high-level human rights dialogues and lead the consultations with third countries on human rights issues);
    • the EUSR should be granted a strong, independent and flexible mandate not defined by narrow and specific thematic responsibilities but rather allowing the EUSR to act swiftly and effectively;
    • the Special Representative should also address different horizontal issues contributing to more effective and coherent action in EU external policies;
    • the scope of the EUSR’s mandate should be fully in line with the principles of universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms and cover the strengthening of democracy, the rule of law and institution building, international justice and international humanitarian law;
    • the mandate should include, inter alia, abolition of the death penalty, human rights defenders, the fight against impunity, the fight against torture, freedom of expression (including on the internet), of association, of assembly, of religion and of belief, minority rights, child protection, women’s rights, peace and security, gender issues, and the fight against discrimination in all its forms;

    Necessary professional qualifications

    • the EUSR for HR should have the necessary professional qualifications, extensive experience and proven track record in the field of human rights, as well as personal and professional integrity and an international reputation;
    • the Special Representative should be appointed for 2.5 years (renewable); the Parliament should be properly consulted in a timely manner during the renewal process;
    • the EUSR for HR should work closely with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the President of the European Parliament to ensure coherence and mainstreaming of human rights across all policy areas in the work of all EU institutions; the EUSR should interact closely with the EEAS Human Rights and Democracy Directorate and all the multilateral EU delegations, as well as with all EU delegations in the world.

    Specific missions

    • the EUSR for HR should regularly report to the relevant committee of the European Parliament on the situation of human rights in the world and the state of play of the implementation of the mandate;
    • the Special Representative should cooperate with representatives of local, regional and national civil society, NGOs, experts, and regional and international organisations acting in the field of protection of human rights and democracy.

    Financial and human resources

    • the EUSR for HR should be provided with adequate financial and human resources and the budget should be reviewed annually;
    • the EUSR for HR should be responsible for constituting a team, the team may include seconded staff from Member States and EU institutions.

    The draft recommendation calls for a reference to be made to this recommendation adopted in plenary to be included in the future mandate of the EUSR for HR.

    activities/3/body
    Old
    EC
    New
    EP
    activities/3/commission
      activities/3/docs
      • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20120612&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament
      activities/3/type
      Old
      Prev DG PRES
      New
      Debate in Parliament
      activities/4
      date
      2012-05-24T00:00:00
      body
      EP
      type
      Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
      committees
      body: EP responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2012-03-21T00:00:00 2012-03-21T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: EPP name: ANDRIKIENĖ Laima Liucija group: EPP name: SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA José Ignacio
      activities/4/date
      Old
      2012-05-16T00:00:00
      New
      2012-06-13T00:00:00
      activities/4/docs
      • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=21651&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament
      • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-250 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0250/2012
      activities/4/type
      Old
      Deadline Amendments
      New
      Results of vote in Parliament
      activities/8
      date
      2012-06-13T00:00:00
      docs
      type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0250/2012
      body
      EP
      type
      Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
      committees/0/date
      Old
      • 2012-03-21T00:00:00
      • 2012-03-21T00:00:00
      New
      2012-03-21T00:00:00
      committees/0/rapporteur/0
      group
      EPP
      name
      ANDRIKIENĖ Laima Liucija
      committees/0/rapporteur/0/group
      Old
      EPP
      New
      PPE
      committees/0/rapporteur/0/mepref
      Old
      4de1882f0fb8127435bdc2dc
      New
      4f1adaf5b819f207b300009d
      procedure/Modified legal basis
      Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
      procedure/legal_basis
      • Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 011
      activities/6/type
      Old
      Debate scheduled
      New
      Debate in Parliament
      activities/8/docs
      • type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0250/2012
      activities/8/type
      Old
      Vote scheduled
      New
      Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
      procedure/stage_reached
      Old
      Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
      New
      Procedure completed
      activities/5/docs/0/text
      • The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report drafted by José Ignacio SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA (PPE, ES) containing a recommendation to the Council on the EU Special Representative for Human Rights.

        Members recall that Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union reaffirms the EU’s commitment to promoting human rights and democracy in all its external actions while guaranteeing coherence and consistency across these areas and between its external action and its other policies and that Article 33 of the TEU provides the legal basis for the appointment of the EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights.

        Given that the European Parliament has repeatedly called for the appointment of an EU Special Representative for Human Rights (resolution of 16 December 2010 as well as its resolution of 18 April 2012), Members address, once again, a recommendation on the same issue.

        They recall that the EUSR for HR should strengthen the visibility and coherence of the EU’s Human Rights Policy as a fundamental part of its Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and contribute to raising the EU’s human rights profile worldwide.

        The committee addresses the following recommendations to the Council:

        Appointment and the role of the European Parliament in this context

        • the appointment of the first ever thematic EUSR should enhance the visibility, effectiveness, coherence and accountability of the EU’s human rights policy;
        • the European Parliament should play its appropriate role in the appointment procedure and the oversight of the mandate during its entire term, this is why an exchange of views/hearing with the EUSR for HR nominated by the High Representative should take place in the relevant committee of the European Parliament.

        Mandate

        • the implementation of the mandate and its consistency with other contributions from the Union in this domain should be kept under regular review;
        • the EUSR HR should work in close cooperation with the Council Working Group on Human Rights (COHOM); the EUSR for HR should be a high-level interlocutor for his/her counterparts in third  countries and at international organisations, also able to engage with the UN (UNGA, UNHRC, etc.) as well as relevant regional organisations (it should chair high-level human rights dialogues and lead the consultations with third countries on human rights issues);
        • the EUSR should be granted a strong, independent and flexible mandate not defined by narrow and specific thematic responsibilities but rather allowing the EUSR to act swiftly and effectively;
        • the Special Representative should also address different horizontal issues contributing to more effective and coherent action in EU external policies;
        • the scope of the EUSR’s mandate should be fully in line with the principles of universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms and cover the strengthening of democracy, the rule of law and institution building, international justice and international humanitarian law;
        • the mandate should include, inter alia, abolition of the death penalty, human rights defenders, the fight against impunity, the fight against torture, freedom of expression (including on the internet), of association, of assembly, of religion and of belief, minority rights, child protection, women’s rights, peace and security, gender issues, and the fight against discrimination in all its forms;

        Necessary professional qualifications

        • the EUSR for HR should have the necessary professional qualifications, extensive experience and proven track record in the field of human rights, as well as personal and professional integrity and an international reputation;
        • the Special Representative should be appointed for 2.5 years (renewable); the Parliament should be properly consulted in a timely manner during the renewal process;
        • the EUSR for HR should work closely with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the President of the European Parliament to ensure coherence and mainstreaming of human rights across all policy areas in the work of all EU institutions; the EUSR should interact closely with the EEAS Human Rights and Democracy Directorate and all the multilateral EU delegations, as well as with all EU delegations in the world.

        Specific missions

        • the EUSR for HR should regularly report to the relevant committee of the European Parliament on the situation of human rights in the world and the state of play of the implementation of the mandate;
        • the Special Representative should cooperate with representatives of local, regional and national civil society, NGOs, experts, and regional and international organisations acting in the field of protection of human rights and democracy.

        Financial and human resources

        • the EUSR for HR should be provided with adequate financial and human resources and the budget should be reviewed annually;
        • the EUSR for HR should be responsible for constituting a team, the team may include seconded staff from Member States and EU institutions.

        The draft recommendation calls for a reference to be made to this recommendation adopted in plenary to be included in the future mandate of the EUSR for HR.

      activities/5/docs/0/url
      http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-174&language=EN
      activities/5
      date
      2012-05-31T00:00:00
      docs
      type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A7-0174/2012
      body
      EP
      type
      Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
      procedure/title
      Old
      EU Special Representative for Human Rights. Recommendation to Council under Rule 97 of the Rules of Procedure
      New
      EU Special Representative for Human Rights. Recommendation to the Council
      activities/2/committees
      • body: EP responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2012-03-21T00:00:00 2012-03-21T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: EPP name: ANDRIKIENĖ Laima Liucija group: EPP name: SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA José Ignacio
      activities/2/date
      Old
      2012-06-13T00:00:00
      New
      2012-05-10T00:00:00
      activities/2/type
      Old
      EP 1R Plenary
      New
      Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
      activities/4/committees/0/date
      Old
      2012-03-21T00:00:00
      New
      • 2012-03-21T00:00:00
      • 2012-03-21T00:00:00
      activities/4/committees/0/rapporteur/1
      group
      EPP
      name
      SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA José Ignacio
      activities/4/date
      Old
      2012-05-10T00:00:00
      New
      2012-05-24T00:00:00
      activities/4/type
      Old
      Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
      New
      Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
      activities/5/date
      Old
      2012-05-24T00:00:00
      New
      2012-06-12T00:00:00
      activities/5/type
      Old
      Prev Adopt in Cte
      New
      Debate scheduled
      activities/6/date
      Old
      2012-06-13T00:00:00
      New
      2012-06-12T00:00:00
      activities/7/date
      Old
      2012-06-12T00:00:00
      New
      2012-06-13T00:00:00
      activities/7/type
      Old
      Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
      New
      Vote scheduled
      committees/0/date
      Old
      2012-03-21T00:00:00
      New
      • 2012-03-21T00:00:00
      • 2012-03-21T00:00:00
      committees/0/rapporteur/1
      group
      EPP
      name
      SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA José Ignacio
      activities/5
      date
      2012-06-12T00:00:00
      body
      EP
      type
      Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
      activities/6/type
      Old
      Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
      New
      EP 1R Plenary
      activities/7
      body
      EC
      date
      2012-06-13T00:00:00
      type
      Prev DG PRES
      commission
      activities/2
      date
      2012-05-10T00:00:00
      body
      EP
      type
      Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
      committees
      body: EP responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2012-03-21T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: EPP name: ANDRIKIENĖ Laima Liucija
      procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
      AFET/7/09468
      procedure/stage_reached
      Old
      Preparatory phase in Parliament
      New
      Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
      activities
      • body: EP date: 2012-05-03T00:00:00 type: EP officialisation
      • date: 2012-05-08T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE489.344 type: Committee draft report title: PE489.344 body: EP type: Committee draft report
      • body: EP date: 2012-05-16T00:00:00 type: Deadline Amendments
      • body: EP date: 2012-05-24T00:00:00 type: Prev Adopt in Cte
      • date: 2012-06-13T00:00:00 body: EP type: Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
      committees
      • body: EP responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2012-03-21T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: EPP name: ANDRIKIENĖ Laima Liucija
      links
      other
        procedure
        reference
        2012/2088(INI)
        title
        EU Special Representative for Human Rights. Recommendation to Council under Rule 97 of the Rules of Procedure
        stage_reached
        Preparatory phase in Parliament
        subtype
        Initiative
        type
        INI - Own-initiative procedure
        subject