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Reply to Recommendation | Doc. 13067 | 08 January 2013
Human rights and foreign policy
1. The Committee of Ministers has taken
note of Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 2004 (2012) on “Human
rights and foreign policy” and of the relevant resolution in which
the Assembly calls on member States to take a number of steps to
give prominence in their foreign policy to standards concerning
human rights, democracy and rule of law. It has brought the recommendation
to the attention of the member States’ governments so that they
might take inspiration from it as required.
2. The Committee agrees with the Assembly that the furtherance
of democracy and human rights should form an integral part of member
States’ foreign policy, both bilaterally and multilaterally, while
noting that it rests with each State to structure its foreign policy
as it sees fit. It welcomes the initiatives already taken by several member
States and the European Union, for example through the creation
of Human Rights Ambassadors. It encourages all member States to
develop such initiatives, building on the Council of Europe instruments
and standards and promoting them where appropriate.
3. The Committee recalls in this context that the promotion of
democracy, human rights and rule of law – as core values of the
Council of Europe – is an integral part of the Council of Europe
policy towards neighbouring regions.
4. The Committee shares the Assembly’s view that the European
External Action Service represents an opportunity to enhance the
link between human rights and foreign policy.