During its last plenary session (Strasbourg, 3-6/9/2007), the European Parliament approved a Report relating to the dialogue on human rights with third countries in which MEPs ask the Council and Commission to “reinforce inter-institutional coherence and cooperation in the sector”. The Report underlines the need for respect for human rights in EU partner and associated states to constitute the “foundation of strategic and privileged relations with the European Union” in political, economic and trade negotiations, given that the primary objective of dialogue consists in “contributing to the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law”. The EP – with a view to its greater general involvement in this field – also asks the Council “systematically to apply the clause relating to human rights and democracy in all the accords of association between the Union and third countries” and to “put in place a transparent mechanism” to evaluate the status quo and act in such a way that EU policies of aid to development and to democratisation be coherent and be binding on the authorities of the beneficiary countries to ensure their respect for civil, political, social, economic, environmental and cultural rights. The Report lastly expresses “concern” about the dialogue in terms of human rights with China, Iran and Russia.
