Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

download Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

of 30

Transcript of Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    1/30

    1

    The Euro-MediterraneanHuman Rights Network

    Supported by the European Commission

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    2/30

    2

    Presentation Outline

    PART I

    The EU Institutions: How Can NGOs Act with the

    EU institutions ?

    PART II

    Human Rights Mechanisms in EU-SouthMediterranean Countries Relations, especially withIsrael

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    3/30

    3

    The EU InstitutionsHow to Act on the

    EU Human Rights Mechanisms?

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    4/30

    4

    The EU System

    1st PillarEuropean

    Community (EC)

    Decision at Majorityof Member states

    -Economic matters- Internal Market

    -Other policies, incl.migration, asylum,

    developmentcooperation, trade

    and customs

    2nd PillarCommon Foreign

    and Security

    Policy (CFSP)

    Unanimity of MS

    -Political and securitydimension

    3rd PillarPolice and Judicial

    Cooperation in

    Criminal Matters

    Unanimity of MS

    Terrorism

    Trafficking inhuman beings

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    5/30

    5

    General EU Commitments on HR

    EU Treaties

    The EU is founded on the principles of liberty,democracy, respect for HR and fundamental freedoms,and the rule of law, principles which are common to the

    Member States(Art.6 EUT)

    HR as an objective of: CFSP

    to develop and consolidate democracy and the rule of law, andrespect for HR and fundamental freedom (11.1 EUT)

    Development cooperation and economic, financialand technical cooperation with third countriesto contribute to the general objective of developing andconsolidating democracy and the rule of law, and to that ofrespecting HR and fundamental freedoms (181a and 177.2 ECT)

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    6/30

    6

    General EU Commitments on HR

    1995, EU Commissions Communication, The inclusion of respect fordemocracy principles and HR in agreements between Community andThird Countries

    HR Clause in all bilateral agreements 1996, EU Commissions Communication, Incorporating equal

    opportunities for women and men into all Community policies andactivities

    Gender mainstreaming principle 2000, EUCharter of Fundamental Rights

    Guide EU Commissions actions within its external relations 2001, EU Commissions Communication, TheEURole in promoting HR

    and democratisation in third countries HR mainstreaming EU HR Guidelines on :

    HR defenders, Death Penalty, Torture,

    HR dialogues with third countries, Children in armed conflictPromoting compliance withInternational Humanitarian Law

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    7/30

    7

    EU Institutions

    European Council

    Council of the European Union

    European Commission

    European Parliament

    Court of Justice of the European Communities

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    8/30

    8

    European Council

    Composition

    27 Heads of States and Governments

    Competences

    Sets the general political orientations of EU policies

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    9/30

    9

    Council of the European Union

    Composition Ministers of the 27 Member States

    Eg: General affairs Council

    External relations Council

    (Ministers of Foreign Affairs)

    Presidency Germany Jan/june 2007

    Portugal July/dec 2007

    Slovenia Jan/june 2008

    France July/dec 2008

    Troka (current and future Presidencies andCommission)

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    10/30

    10

    Council of the European Union

    Competences

    Legislative body

    Decision making body regarding EU foreign policies

    Conclusion of international agreements

    Adoption of ENP Action Plans

    Instruments:

    -Regulations, directives, decisions, common actions, commonpositions, recommendations, opinions, conclusions, declarations,

    resolutions, demarches- EU HR Guidelines on :

    HR defenders, Death Penalty, Torture,

    HR dialogues with third countries, Children in armed conflict

    Promoting compliance withInternational Humanitarian Law

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    11/30

    11

    Council of the European Union

    Assisted by

    General Secretariat of the Council

    COREPER

    Working Groups

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    12/30

    12

    Council of the European Union

    COREPER and Working Groups

    Representatives of the Member States to prepare thework of Ministers: in Permanent Representations of the MS in Brussels

    In MS Foreign Affairs Ministries in MS Embassies in third countries

    Divided into Working Groupse.g. COHOM for HR

    Maghreb-Mashrek Group Gulf and Middle East Group COMAG

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    13/30

    13

    Council of the European Union

    General Secretariat of the Council

    Secretary General/High representative for theCFSP: Mr. Solana

    With a Personal Representative for HR: Ms. RiinaKionka

    Council Secretariat Staff

    e.g. Middle East, Mediterranean Unit

    Human rights Unit

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    14/30

    14

    European Commission

    Composition

    President: Mr. Barroso

    25Commissioners

    Mrs. Ferrero-Waldner, External relations and ENP

    24 Directorates General

    e.g. DG External Relations (Relex)

    DG for Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) EuropAid

    EC Delegations in third countries

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    15/30

    15

    European Commission

    Competences

    Proposes EU legislation and policies

    Executive body

    Proposes EU Budget

    Negotiates agreements with third countries (AA)

    Negotiates and monitors implementation of APs

    Prepares and follow up meetings of EMP Develops country strategies, NIPs and RIPs

    Manages EU assistance to third countries

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    16/30

    16

    European Commission

    DG Relex

    Political Direction on EU Foreign Affairs Programming of Aid in:

    Country Strategy Papers and National Indicative Programmes (NIP) Regional Strategy Papers and Regional Indicative Programmes

    (RIP)

    Programming of EIDHR Strategy Paper 2007-2010

    Initiates Commissions Communications andpolicies on foreign affairs and HR

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    17/30

    17

    European Commission

    DG RELEX

    Directorate B

    Multilateral relations

    and Human rights

    Directorate D

    ENP Coordination

    Directorate F

    Middle East,

    Southern Mediterranean

    Unit B 1

    HR and democratization

    Unit F1 Euromed and

    regional issues

    F2 Gulf Countries, Iran,

    Iraq and Yemen

    F3 Near East

    F4 Maghreb

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    18/30

    18

    European Commission

    EuropeAid

    Manages EU Assistance to third countries

    Manages former MEDA, EIDHR and ENPI Programmes Annual financing plan based on NIPs/RIPs and EIDHR

    programming

    Identification till evaluation of the projects

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    19/30

    19

    EuropAid

    Directorate A

    Europe, Southern Mediterranean,

    Middle East, Neighbourhood PolicyDirectorate E

    Quality of operations

    04 Central Management of

    thematic budget lines

    Unit E4

    Governance, HR,

    democracy and gender

    European Commission

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    20/30

    20

    European Commission

    Delegations

    Increased role of the Delegations since the de-concentration reform in 2000

    Responsibilities of the Delegations : Represent EU Commission in third countries

    Increased role on the ground in countries and in EUCommission policy making

    Manage budget lines for MEDA and ENPI HR and civilsociety projects and EIDHR micro-projects

    Report on political developments and HR

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    21/30

    21

    European Parliament

    Composition

    732 Members (MEPs) gathered in 7 politicalgroups

    Parliamentary Committeese.g. Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Sub Committee on HR

    Inter-parliamentary delegations

    e.g. Maghreb, Mahsrek, Israel,

    Palestinian Legislative Council, Turkey

    EP delegation to EMPA

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    22/30

    22

    European Parliament

    Competences

    Co-legislative body on Community issues

    eg: customs and development issues

    Only advisory role in Foreign affairs issues

    Except:

    Co-budgetary authority

    Assent for agreements with third countries

    Instruments:

    Reports, resolutions, hearings, oral and written questions,missions (elections)

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    23/30

    23

    EU Funding for HR

    and Democracy Projects

    TillEnd 2006:

    MEDA

    EIDHR

    Start 2007:

    European Neighbourhood and

    Partnership Instrument (ENPI)European Instrument for Democracy and

    HR

    HR and Governance facility

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    24/30

    24

    MEDA

    EMP Financial Instrument

    MEDA Regulation adopted by the EU in 1996

    Apply to states, local and regional authoritiesand civil society with government consent

    Includes a HR Clause

    Budget: Meda II 2000-2006 : 5.35 Billions Euros

    Ends in 2006

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    25/30

    25

    European Neighbourhood

    and Partnership Instrument

    Instrument for the ENP implementation (replaces MEDA)

    Regulation adopted on 17 October 2006

    No HR clause: only build on commitments to commonvalues and scope possibly includes HR

    Objectives :

    Supporting the implementation of the ENP Action plans

    Cross-border cooperation and intra-regional cooperation

    Technical assistance for institutional capacity building

    With host government consent

    Budget: 11,181 billion for 2007/2013

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    26/30

    26

    ENPI

    Programming Managed by the EU Commission Priorities identifies with the Countries in:

    Country Strategy Papers (CSPs)/Regional StrategyPaper (RSP) 2007/2013 Define the main goals, guidelines and priority sectors for 7 years

    National Indicative Programmes (NIPs)/ RegionalIndicative Programm (RIP), 2007-2010 for 3 years

    Annual Programmes

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    27/30

    27

    European Initiative for

    Democracy and Human Rights

    Specific instrument to support HR and democracyWorldwide

    EU Regulation in 1999

    Beneficiaries: NGOs and international organisations Without host government consent

    Priorities 2005-2006 through 4 Thematic Campaigns:

    1. Promoting justice and the rule of law

    2. Fostering a culture of HR

    3. Promoting the democratic process

    4. Advancing equality, tolerance and peace

    Budget: 100/130 million Euros/ Year

    Ends in 2006

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    28/30

    28

    European Instrument for

    Democracy and HR

    New legal basis for HR Projects 2007-2013(build on the EIDHR)

    Regulation adopted on 19Decembre 2006 Now: Possibility to fundnon-recognizedNGOs

    Draft Programming Document 2007-10 andthen 2011-13

    Annual Work Programme to be adopted foreach year

    Budget 2007-13 : 1,1billion euros

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    29/30

    29

    European InstrumentDemocracy and HR

    Programming/ObjectivesDRAFTObjective 1 To develop the political space within which civil society may

    develop,where basic freedoms are most at riskObjective 2 Stenghtening the role of civil society in promoting HR and democracy

    reform, in supporting conflict prevention and in developping politicalparticipation and representation in those countries where there issufficient freedom and room for manuvre

    Objective 3

    Supporting actions on human rights and democracy issues in areascovered by EU Guidelines, including on HR dialogues, on HRdefenders, on the death penalty, on torture, and on children and armedconflict

    Other Objectives Supporting international organisations

    Election monitoring

  • 8/7/2019 Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Network

    30/30

    30

    Project Cycle Management

    Identification(EIDHR Projects

    Calls for proposalsby EuropAid and

    Delegations)

    Financing

    Evaluation Appraisal

    Implementation

    ProgrammingBy DG Relex