15.11.2013 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
CE 332/114 |
Wednesday 13 June 2012
EU Special Representative for Human Rights
P7_TA(2012)0250
European Parliament recommendation to the Council of 13 June 2012 on the EU Special Representative for Human Rights (2012/2088(INI))
2013/C 332 E/24
The European Parliament,
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having regard to Articles 2, 3, 6, 21, 31, 33 and 36 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), |
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having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, |
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having regard to its resolution of 16 December 2010 on the Annual Report on Human Rights in the World 2009 and the European Union’s policy on the matter (1), |
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having regard to its resolution of 18 April 2012 on the Annual Report on Human Rights in the World and the European Union’s policy on the matter, including implications for the EU’s strategic human rights policy (2), |
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having regard to the Joint Communication of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Commission to the European Parliament and the Council of 12 December 2011 entitled ‘Human rights and democracy at the heart of EU external action – Towards a more effective approach’ (COM(2011)0886), |
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having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions entitled ‘Delivering an area of freedom, security and justice for Europe’s citizens – Action plan implementing the Stockholm Programme’ (COM(2010)0171), |
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having regard to the European Union’s Guidelines on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (3), |
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having regard to the accession of the European Union to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, |
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having regard to the declaration by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on political accountability (4), |
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having regard to Rule 97 of its Rules of Procedure, |
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having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A7-0174/2012), |
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whereas 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; |
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whereas Article 33 of the TEU provides the legal basis for the appointment of the EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights, namely: ‘The Council may, on a proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, appoint a special representative with a mandate in relation to particular policy issues. The special representative shall carry out his mandate under the authority of the High Representative’; |
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whereas the European Parliament has repeatedly called for the appointment of an EU Special Representative for Human Rights (EUSR for HR), as set out in its above-mentioned resolutions of 16 December 2010 and of 18 April 2012; |
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whereas 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; |
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Addresses the following recommendations to the Council:
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Instructs its President to forward this recommendation to the Council, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and, for information, the Commission. |
(1) Texts adopted, P7_TA(2010)0489.
(2) Texts adopted, P7_TA(2012)0126.
(3) http://www.eeas.europa.eu/human_rights/docs/guidelines_en.pdf
(4) OJ C 351 E, 2.12.2011, p. 470.