Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-12-13-Speech-2-260"
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"en.20051213.56.2-260"2
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"Madam President, the EU’s foreign policy is based on the defence of peace, democracy, human rights and the state governed by law, and that is why we attach such importance to the political dimension of the Copenhagen criteria when we negotiate with the new Member States. In this area, the EU too has, of course, been extremely successful in disseminating these values.
It is naturally more difficult when it comes to other countries. Even though human rights are always included in theory, it is difficult to achieve our objectives through dialogue. We have clauses but, as you know, Parliament has recommended that they be compulsory and be activated. We cannot be content merely to protest vaguely at events such as those in Tunisia in which fundamental human rights are grossly violated. Tunisia is a country closely associated with the EU.
As we know, the human rights dialogues with China and Iran are going badly. Nor is such dialogue making any progress in Russia. Today, we have seen how our Sakharov Prize winners – the ladies from Cuba – are not being given permission to come here. I hope that the Council and the Commission can step up their protests against the dictator in Havana, who continues to mock the whole world. There is a lot more to do when it comes to Zimbabwe, Belarus, Burma, Saudi Arabia etc.
We know, of course, that the EU, as a soft power, is fantastically powerful. We are the only international actor that really can bring about great things if we are agreed on the defence of human rights and values. Those around us expect us to have a common foreign policy through which we can play a role on the international stage and speak with one voice. This foreign policy, which takes the form of trade, aid and political and economic cooperation, must always be guided by respect for human rights.
As democrats, we have a responsibility for making sure we combat lack of freedom and spread democracy and human rights as far afield as the villages of Colombia, Zimbabwe and North Korea. That is why this report is an important and constructive tool. I only hope that, in the future, it may become somewhat more strategic so that we obtain a still more cohesive human rights policy."@en1
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