The European Union should incorporate the human rights achievements of the Council of Europe

All of the member states of the EU have already adhered to the Convention signed in 1950 in the Council of Europe (CE). On the other hand, the European Union gained separate legal personality with the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty and thus it is possible for it to adhere to the Convention.  In consequence, the European legislation has to be in line with the provisions of the human rights document.

The parliamentary debate saw the vast majority of MEPs welcoming the Spanish presidency’s efforts to hasten the adherence. Spanish socialist Ramón Jáuregui Atondon and Fidesz’s Kinga Gál were rapporteurs on the subject. Their colleagues acknowledged their work with approval.

DAHR’s MEP Csaba Sógor appraised  the adherence of the EU to the Convention as a measure that strengthens the Union’s authenticity in dealing with human rights issues (in) the third countries. He explained that the CE’s provisions exceed the European Union’s current level and therefore asked commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, Viviane Reding to examine the possibility of adherence to other conventions of the CE and prepare a list of documents that (if adopted) can raise the level of human rights’ protection in the EU, if adopted. 

The Hungarian MEP from Transylvania pointed out the example of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Most of the member states have already adhered to these documents. – If the EU does this, the extension of the EU legislation could be done faster and easier – said Csaba Sógor.