14 June, Luxembourg. The Council agreed on a general approach on a draft regulation creating the possibility for EU citizens to call for legislative proposals to be made on specific issues on the 14th of June in Luxembourg. It requested the presidency to commence negotiations with the Parliament, based on the general approach, in order for the regulation to be adopted at first reading. The text indicates that a proposed initiative from EU citizens must fall within EU competence and be consistent with its values. It also contains provisions on signatures verification and abuse prevention. The organizers of an initiative will have one year after registration to collect one million signatures. The Commission will decide admissibility of the initiative once 100000 signatures have been collected.

To read the full agreement click here.

14 June, Brussels. The OSI commissioned a study on the implications of the Lisbon Treaty for OSI and identifies new opportunities to advance society goals by using the new legal framework, in particular the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The report highlights that the Lisbon Treaty is very important for human rights advocates. The Charter of Fundamental Rights is now binding and creates the opportunity to expand fundamental freedom, wherever EU law is involved. The EU institutions have gained more power to prevent violation of individual rights. Foreign policy will change in the way it operates due to the new post of High Representative for Foreign Policy and the External Action Service, but EU countries are not obliged to have the same foreign policy. Not only the institutions, but the Court of Justice also sees its powers increase which became stronger than the European Court of Human Rights to protect human rights and individual freedoms. The rules to challenge EU law in national courts have under the treaty been relaxed for individuals and organizations. Furthermore the treaty allows national parliaments to block new laws and citizens to request legislation from the Commission.

To read the report click here.

Today is the joint meeting between the European Commission and the Commission of the African Union in Addis Ababa, to prepare the next EU-AU summit scheduled to take place in Tripoli, Libya, on 29 and 30 November. During this meeting, new action plans for their relations in 2011-2013 are broadly outlined, to be adopted at their summit in Tripoli.

In December 2009, EEPA brought together information and views from representatives of the Eritrean civil society, the European Commission, EU member states, the US Department of State, academic organizations and African and Northern NGOs, as well as African ambassadors organised during a two-day conference in November 2009.

To view the Conference Statement please click here.
The Conference Report can be found here.
For further information on today’s meeting in Addis Ababa please click here.

Photo: www.gaymitchell.ie

Alliance2015, a coalition of some of Europe’s most authoritative development NGOs urged the European Commission (EC) at a hearing in the European Parliament to show bold and responsible leadership in the preparations towards the UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Alliance2015’s report 2015-Watch: The EU’s Contribution to the Millennium Development Goals. Keeping the Goals Alive, launched at the hearing, expressed concern about alarmingly low EU aid levels for food, health and education, especially to Sub-Sahara Africa.

“These figures are disheartening and require explanation,” said MEP Gay Mitchell, who hosted the hearing. Vagn Berthelsen, President of Alliance2015 urged the European Union to “agree a legally binding target ensuring that 20% of all aid is allocated to basic health and education, and to strongly advocate for an international target at the UN MDG Summit.” “The EU as the largest donor must lead by example”, added Birgit Dederichs-Bains from the German aid organisation Welthungerhilfe.

Click here to download the report, here for the Press Release from Alliance2015,  here for some Media Coverage and here for some pictures.

The European Parliament has adopted an important resolution on religious freedoms that denounces the blasphemy laws in Pakistan, which, according to human rights activists, create a atmosphere of impunity when citizens take the law into their own hand, to defend their religion. The resolution has been welcomed in the media, and the government has responded by stating these laws will be changed. Human Rights activists say the only solution os for these laws to be abolished.

Click here to read the resolution, and here for some press coverage (pdf).

On 11 May Jean Lambert MEP hosted a hearing about Human Rights and Women Rights in Pakistan. Click here for more information.