1  

The Euro-Mediterranean

Human Rights Network 

Supported by the European Commission 

2  

Presentation Outline 
 

• PART I

The EU Institutions: How Can NGOs Act with the EU institutions ?  

• PART II

Human Rights Mechanisms in EU-South Mediterranean Countries Relations, especially with Israel

3  

 
 
 
 

The EU Institutions

How to Act on the  
EU Human Rights Mechanisms? 

4  

The EU System 

1st Pillar

European Community (EC) 
 
 

Decision at Majority of Member states 

• Economic matters
• Internal Market
• Other policies, incl. migration, asylum, development cooperation, trade and customs

 

2^nd Pillar

Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) 
 

Unanimity of MS 
 

• Political and security dimension

 

3^rd Pillar

Police and Judicial

Cooperation in

Criminal Matters 
 

Unanimity of MS 

• Terrorism
• Trafficking in human beings

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, and respect for HR and fundamental freedom” (11.1 EUT)

• Development cooperation and economic, financial and technical cooperation with third countries

    “to contribute to the general objective of developing and consolidating democracy and the rule of law, and to that of respecting HR and fundamental freedoms” (181a and 177.2 ECT) 

6  

General EU Commitments on HR 

• 1995, EU Commission’s Communication, The inclusion of respect for democracy principles and HR in agreements between Community and Third Countries
• HR Clause in all bilateral agreements
• 1996, EU Commission’s Communication, Incorporating equal opportunities for women and men into all Community policies and activities
• Gender mainstreaming principle
• 2000, EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
• Guide EU Commission’s actions within its external relations
• 2001, EU Commission’s Communication, The EU Role 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 conflict

Promoting compliance with International Humanitarian Law  

7  

EU Institutions 
 

• European Council
• Council of the European Union
• European Commission
• European Parliament
• Court of Justice of the European Communities

8  

European Council  
 
 

• Composition

27 Heads of States and Governments 

• Competences

 Sets the general political orientations of EU policies 
 
 
 

 
 

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
• Troīka (current and future Presidencies and Commission) 
  

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, common positions, 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 with International Humanitarian Law

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Council of the European Union 
Assisted by 
 
 
 

• General Secretariat of the Council

 

• COREPER

 

• Working Groups

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

12  

Council of the European Union 
COREPER and Working Groups 
 

• Representatives of the Member States to prepare the work of Ministers:
• in Permanent Representations of the MS in Brussels
• In MS Foreign Affairs Ministries
• in MS Embassies in third countries
• Divided into Working Groups

e.g.

• COHOM for HR
• Maghreb-Mashrek Group
• Gulf and Middle East Group
• COMAG

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Council of the European Union  
General Secretariat of the Council 
 

• Secretary General/High representative for the CFSP: Mr. Solana
• With a Personal Representative for HR: Ms. Riina Kionka
• Council Secretariat Staff

    e.g.

• Middle East, Mediterranean Unit
• Human rights Unit

14  

European Commission  
Composition 

• President: Mr. Barroso
• 25 Commissioners

    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

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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

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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 Commission’s Communications and policies on foreign affairs and HR

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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 
 

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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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  

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EuropAid 

Directorate A

Europe, Southern Mediterranean,

Middle East, Neighbourhood Policy 
 
 

Directorate E

Quality of operations 

04 Central Management of

thematic budget lines  
 

Unit E4

Governance, HR, 
democracy and gender 

European Commission

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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 EU Commission policy making
• Manage budget lines for MEDA and ENPI HR and civil society projects and EIDHR micro-projects
• Report on political developments and HR

21  

 
European Parliament 
Composition 
 

• 732 Members (MEPs) gathered in 7 political groups
• Parliamentary Committees

e.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

22  

European Parliament 
Competences 
 

• Co-legislative body on Community issues
• eg: custom’s 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)  

23  

EU Funding for HR 
and Democracy Projects 

Till End 2006: 

• MEDA
• EIDHR

Start 2007:

• European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI)
• European Instrument for Democracy and HR
• HR and Governance facility

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MEDA 
 

• EMP Financial Instrument
• MEDA Regulation adopted by the EU in 1996
• Apply to states, local and regional authorities and civil society with government consent
• Includes a HR Clause
• Budget: Meda II 2000-2006 : 5.35 Billions Euros
• Ends in 2006

  
 

 

  

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 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 common values” 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

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   ENPI 
    Programming     

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

 

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

 

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

 

• Annual Programmes

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            European Initiative for  
  Democracy and Human Rights 
 

• Specific instrument to support HR and democracy Worldwide
• EU Regulation in 1999
• Beneficiaries: NGOs and international organisations
• Without host government consent
• Priorities 2005-2006 through 4 Thematic Campaigns:
• Promoting justice and the rule of law
• Fostering a culture of HR
• Promoting the democratic process
• Advancing equality, tolerance and peace
• Budget: 100/130 million Euros/ Year
• Ends in 2006

  

28  

            European Instrument for     Democracy and HR 

• New legal basis for HR Projects 2007-2013 (build on the EIDHR)
• Regulation adopted on 19 Decembre 2006
• Now: Possibility to fund non-recognized NGOs
• Draft Programming Document 2007-10 and then 2011-13
• Annual Work Programme to be adopted for each year
• Budget 2007-13 : 1,1billion euros

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            European Instrument     Democracy and HR     Programming/Objectives 

    DRAFT

    Objective 1

• To develop the political space within which civil society may develop,where basic freedoms are most at risk

Objective 2

• Stenghtening the role of civil society in promoting HR and democracy reform, in supporting conflict prevention and in developping political participation and representation in those countries where there is sufficient freedom and room for manœuvre

Objective 3

• Supporting actions on human rights and democracy issues in areas covered by EU Guidelines, including on HR dialogues, on HR defenders, on the death penalty, on torture, and on children and armed conflict

Other Objectives

• Supporting international organisations
• Election monitoring

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Project Cycle Management 
 
 
 
 
 

      Identification

(EIDHR Projects

Calls for proposals

by EuropAid and

Delegations)  
 

Financing 

Evaluation 

Appraisal 

Implementation 
 

Programming

      By DG Relex