The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network Supported by the European Commission

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 • 2nd Pillar • Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Unanimity of MS • Political and security dimension • 3rd 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 and177.2 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. Composition 27 Heads of States and Governments Competences Sets the general political orientations of EU policies European Council

9. 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 Troïka (current and future Presidencies and Commission) Council of the European UnionComposition

10. Council of the European UnionCompetences • 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 - EUHR Guidelines on : HR defenders, Death Penalty, Torture, HR dialogues with third countries, Children in armed conflict Promoting compliance with International Humanitarian Law

11. Council of the European UnionAssisted by • General Secretariat of the Council • COREPER • Working Groups

12. Council of the European UnionCOREPER 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

13. 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. 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 European CommissionComposition

15. European CommissionCompetences • 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

16. European CommissionDG Relex • “Political Direction” on EU Foreign Affairs • Programming of Aidin: • 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

17. European Commission

18. European CommissionEuropeAid • 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

19. European Commission

20. 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. 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 European ParliamentComposition

22. European ParliamentCompetences • 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 HRand 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

29. 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

30. Project Cycle Management