ensuring respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law; stresses that EU Special Representatives are the focal points for internal guidance, expertise and advocacy, and logical interlocutors for third countries and other non-EU actors; welcomes the designation of at least one individual in each EU delegation as a contact person to lead human rights policy coordination, mainstreaming and monitoring; 10. Welcomes the HR/VP’s readiness to undertake a fundamental review of the effectiveness of all the EU instruments in this field, from human rights dialogues to EU guidelines, and from the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) to the EU’s bilateral assistance and actions in multilateral fora, and to launch a consultation process on the development of Country Strategies on human rights encompassing all human rights codified by International Covenants and UN Conventions, which also includes economic, social and cultural rights; stresses the determination to ensure, and the importance of, the EP's full participation in this consultation; stresses the need for civil society organisations to be involved in the consultation; 11. Shares the view that such Country Strategies on human rights, repeatedly requested by Parliament, can substantially reinforce the consistency and effectiveness of EU external action when the Country Strategy becomes a reference document establishing country-specific priorities and objectives to be mainstreamed into all relevant external EU policies and instruments; 12. Insists in particular, in the context of the review, on the importance of conducting a thorough assessment of the human rights aspects of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), which should notably address the coherence and efficiency of the existing mechanisms such as the Action Plans, Progress Reports, Human Rights dialogues and the decision-making process of upgrading relations with non-EU countries; 13. Considers the revised framework agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the Commission as a breakthrough for Parliament in its cooperation with the Commission, but regrets that the Council is not part of the agreement; insists on the necessity to enhance transparency and unrestricted access to documents between all the EU institutions in order to develop more effective interinstitutional cooperation and coherence; 14. Recalls that the development of a coherent EU foreign policy is essential if the Union is to play a significant, constructive role in promoting human rights around the world; calls on the Member States to show unwavering commitment and political will in pursuing this goal; 15. Stresses that greater priority needs to be given to improving the ability of the EU to respond rapidly to breaches of human rights by non-EU countries, notably when it comes to bringing its support to human rights defenders in danger, as well as to violations of human rights by EU-based companies in non-EU countries, by elaborating strategic programmes of action; 16. Recognises that non-governmental organisations are essential to the development and success of democratic societies, the promotion of mutual understanding and tolerance, as well as to initiating and sustaining actionable policy priorities and shared solutions to the challenges to democratic development; The EU Annual Report on Human Rights in the World 17. Underlines the importance of the EU Annual Report on Human Rights in analysing and evaluating the EU’s human rights policy, notably with a view to raising the visibility of human rights issues in general; emphasises the right of the European Parliament to scrutinise action carried out in the