Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-06-12-Speech-2-354-000"
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"en.20120612.17.2-354-000"2
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"Madam President, Baroness Ashton, there can be debate, and all kinds of views, about European foreign policy, but it is possible to say that there is one area in which the European Union has always performed excellently, including in its foreign policy, and that is in standing up for human rights around the world. Given that this is the first time that the European Union will be appointing a topic-specific representative, it is truly symbolic that it should be for this particular topic. In this area, it is not just about functionality; it is also about the signal sent out to the outside world, and this is sending a positive signal.
When it comes to functionality, clearly we do also have to discuss what the Special Representative is able, allowed, supposed or in a position to do. It is important that the mandate should be given the broadest possible form, that it is not constricted, that it is not just about issues that would occur to anyone in respect of human rights matters, but that the Special Representative should have the freedom to really decide what subjects he or she wants to concentrate on. I also approve of the fact that the mandate is relatively long, although I believe that it could be linked to the half-way point of the European election cycle, with two and a half years being a reasonable period, allowing the Special Representative a longer spell in which to dedicate himself/herself to human rights matters. The Special Representative also needs to be adequately equipped and have sufficient staff and I would like to see all that taken care of.
It is also important to me that there should be an obligation to report to the European Parliament. The word obligation here is the right word, as we obviously have to monitor what is happening and what is taking place. I also consider it particularly important – and I have now reached the end of my speech – that the Special Representative should also not just be concerned with broad topics, but that also, for example, there could be monitoring of what European companies sometimes do outside of the European Union – for instance, in relation to human and social rights. That is also a subject that would be very interesting.
I also have something I would like to say to Mr Dartmouth, but he has chosen to leave. I will therefore choose to end my speech now."@en1
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