ownership of this Action Plan among Member States; calls for the inclusion of a section
on the implementation of the Action Plan by Member States in the Annual Report;
14.
Stresses the vital importance of efficient and credible implementation of the stated
commitments, both in the Strategic Framework and in the Action Plan; points out that
credibility requires adequate resourcing of dedicated human rights policies and consistent
mainstreaming at a high political level, such as at ministerial and summit meetings with
third countries, including with strategic partners;
15.
Regrets the fact that economic, social and cultural rights remain largely neglected by the
EU‘s human rights policy in contrast with the EU‘s stated commitment to the
indivisibility and interdependence of rights, and calls on the EEAS, the Commission and
the Member States to step up their efforts in this direction, including in the field of labour
and social rights;
16.
Notes that the current Action Plan will be concluded at the end of 2014; expects the
VP/HR and the EEAS to engage in a timely review and consultations with the Member
States, the Commission, Parliament and civil society, leading to the adoption of a new
Action Plan that will take effect in January 2015;
EU Special Representative for Human Rights
17.
Recognises the importance of the mandate given to the first EU Special Representative
(EUSR) for Human Rights; encourages the EUSR to enhance the visibility,
mainstreaming, coherence, consistency and effectiveness of EU human rights policy, in
particular on women’s rights and the rights of all minorities, and to strike the right
balance between silent and public diplomacy in carrying out his mandate; repeats its
recommendation that the EUSR provide Parliament with a regular report on his activities
and clarification of his thematic and geographic priorities, and ensure that concerns raised
by Parliament are followed up;
18.
Commends the EUSR on the openness of the dialogue which he has conducted with
Parliament and civil society, thus establishing an important practice that should be
continued and consolidated to ensure due transparency and accountability; welcomes the
EUSR‘s cooperation with regional bodies and in multilateral fora and encourages him to
further expand such activities;
19.
Welcomes the fact that cooperation with the EUSR for Human Rights was included in the
mandate of the geographic EUSR for the Sahel, and urges the Council and the VP/HR to
adopt this practice too, with regard to the mandates of future geographic EUSRs;
EU Guidelines on Human Rights
20.
Welcomes the adoption of the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and on
the human rights of LGBTI persons; reminds the EEAS, however, to respect good
interinstitutional practice and engage in a timely manner and with the proper political
bodies within Parliament when developing any new strategic tools such as guidelines or
when reviewing existing ones; recalls Parliament’s recommendation to the Council on the
Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief, in which Parliament proposed an ambitious
set of instruments, providing suggestions for the practical implementation of the
Guidelines in order to achieve substantial progress in the protection and promotion of this