Euro MPs fight for fundamental rights

1.36.40pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 11th Oct 2006

The European Parliament is expected tomorrow to endorse the establishment of an agency to advise on respect for human rights by EU bodies and by EU countries when implementing European laws.

Welcoming this move, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Liberal Democrat European Justice Spokeswoman, said:

"The EU Fundamental Rights Agency will serve as a vital European body in protection against abuse. It is an excellent step towards preventing the European Union from trampling on the basic rights of our citizens or EU states using the implementation of a European law as a pretext to undermine safeguards."

"One would hope it will curb the UK government's tendency to 'gold-plate' EU Directives with all sorts of unjustified measures lying in a dusty drawer in Whitehall."

"MEPs are right to carry on fighting for the Agency's remit to extend to justice and policing cooperation where EU measures are being agreed by member states in a way which is secretive and often escapes the democratic scrutiny of either national or Euro-MPs."

"Excluding a check on whether the EU is respecting human rights in fighting crime and terrorism would leave a gaping hole in the agency's mandate. Allegations of complicity in CIA torture flights reinforce the urgent need for a new body to promote and protect the fundamental rights of European citizens."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The purpose of the Agency is to provide advice and expertise on human rights issues in the EU and report on whether EU institutions and Member States are keeping up to the mark. Due to start work from January 2007, it will replace and incorporate the EU's anti-racism watchdog, the European Racism Monitoring Centre.