Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-06-12-Speech-2-333-000"
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"en.20120612.17.2-333-000"2
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"Madam President, first of all, can I say that I agree with Mr Salafranca that this is in our DNA, and I am really pleased to have the opportunity to speak again in this House on the subject of human rights.
Communications and public diplomacy will be key. They need to help us to be more visible and to promote human rights across the whole range of the European Union’s external policies. But just to be absolutely clear, I will remain personally as involved as ever, but with now, in the future, additional, high-level, expert support to work with me and with the team based in Brussels – some of whom are with us today, and to whom I pay tribute for the extraordinary work done over these last few years.
The Special Representative is part of the bigger package because, as you know, the Council is due to adopt a strategic framework and an action plan on human rights and democracy too. Preparation for this has taken account of input from Members of this House in line with my undertaking to engage this House throughout the process.
The latest of these exchanges took place today, just before this debate began, when my Deputy Secretary-General, Maciej Popowski, met with the contact group in Parliament, under the chairmanship of Ms Lochbihler. I hope that these contacts will continue and become a regular feature of our interinstitutional discussions on a more effective and comprehensive approach to human rights and democracy. I have always intended this process to be inclusive and to give the opportunity for all stakeholders in EU policy to contribute to defining our future priorities.
Madam President, I end as I began, with a thank you to Mr Salafranca for his report.
As honourable Members know, this is one of my top priorities, and I really value the opportunities to continue our discussions. May I also formally thank Mr Salafranca for the work he has done on his report.
The recommendation that is before this House today is a welcome contribution to the preparations for the appointment of a Special Representative on Human Rights. I give absolute credit to Parliament for championing this idea since its report in 2010. We have now reached the point where it commands a broad consensus across the political spectrum. I congratulate Mr Salafranca for delivering such an overwhelming vote in the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET).
The broad consensus is the result of broad consultation. Over the past few months, my services have been canvassing opinions from this House, from Member States, Commission services and from NGOs, and that has helped to ensure that the thinking of this House is reflected in the draft mandate which I presented to the Council.
Honourable Members, the mandate will be broad and flexible. I want the new Special Representative to work with me to set priorities, to be able to develop the themes that Mr Salafranca has so ably put before us: abolition of the death penalty, combating the use of torture, women’s rights, children’s rights, and to ensure that they are able to do that in the context of working collaboratively with the institutions of the European Union and, of course, to work closely with the European External Action Service.
The mandate will be longer than usual: two years instead of one. It is the first time ever that the European Union will have appointed a thematic EU Special Representative, so I believe it is important that the mandate should be long enough to start delivering on issues that are inherently long-term issues.
I believe that the Special Representative will have significant experience and expertise. I am looking for somebody with an established track record, real experience in human rights and a strong understanding of European Union policy. Member States have put forward some excellent candidates, and I look forward to making a swift appointment.
I do want to be clear that the Special Representative will be an important interlocutor for this Parliament. You have my full commitment that he or she will be able to brief Parliament regularly, fitting in line with existing arrangements.
The Special Representative will also add considerable value to our existing work, and that may take the form of leading our human rights dialogues and consultations, where it is obvious that the Special Representative should be a natural interlocutor for our partners."@en1
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