B3-0401, 0402, 0403 and 0404/94

Resolution on human rights in the European Union's foreign policy

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the provisions of the Treaty on European Union signed in Maastricht on 7 February 1992, and in particular its Title V, Provisions on a Common Foreign and Security Policy,

1.Reaffirms that human rights - as proclaimed, for example, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights - are universal, indivisible and interdependent;

2.Declares that respect for the rights and fundamental freedoms of the individual and his social and economic integration in a pluralist democratic system are essential preconditions for the full development of the individual and form an integral part of respect for human rights;

3.Considers that the consolidation and promotion of democratic regimes subject to the laws and institutions of a constitutional state which guarantee the fundamental freedoms of the individual and the protection of human rights are key aspects of the Union's foreign policy;

4.Asserts that human rights violations are, justifiably, a matter of concern for the international community and that this concern cannot be considered as interference in the internal affairs of individual states; takes the view, therefore, that humanitarian intervention cannot be regarded as interference in a country's internal affairs either;

5.Affirms that the situation of women warrants particular attention on the part of the Union, with the ultimate aim of achieving effective equality between women and men;

6.Expresses particular concern at the fate of millions of children throughout the world who are threatened by famine and various forms of exploitation and violence;

7.Recalls its support for the building of a pluricultural Europe in which tolerance reigns, based on respect for differences in sex, race, religion, language and nationality; recalls, in this connection, its various statements against ethnic cleansing, expresses its support for the action of the CSCE High Commissioner for Minorities and calls for the resources required to prevent conflict to be put at his disposal;

8.Considers that a new and effective policy on refugees needs to be introduced quickly, particularly in those Member States where the matter is causing severe tension, and emphasizes the need for the European Union to lay down principles for improving the sharing amongst the Member States of the burden imposed by the flood of refugees;

9.Takes the view that each and every agreement between the European Union and third countries should include a clause on respect for human rights and social rights and make provision for the automatic suspension of the agreement should these rights be violated, and considers that the effective application of the treaties, once they have been ratified, must be an objective of the Union's foreign policy;

10.Calls on the Council and Commission to increase transparency concerning the budgetary funds earmarked for the launch of a consistent human rights policy, which is indispensable if the priorities, objectives and projects envisaged in this sector are to be correctly analysed and if the efforts of Member States in the field of human rights, which are still too fragmented and dependent on the initiative of individual states, are to be better coordinated;

11.Recognizes that cooperation between Parliament, the Council and the Commission in human rights matters has become even more important with the obligation to reinforce and extend the common foreign and security policy;

12.Stresses the need for the Commission and the Council, subject to necessary guarantees of confidentiality, to provide the European Parliament with more information on these matters;

13.Believes that the parliamentary body dealing with human rights should also include the Union's policies for promoting democracy in its remit;

14.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.