III EUROPEAN UNION
| Author | Mielle Bulterman |
| Date | 01 March 2000 |
| Published date | 01 March 2000 |
| DOI | 10.1177/092405190001800107 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
NQHR
1/2000
paragraph
of
Article 1
of
Protocol
No.1.
Accordingly, the Court found that there was no
violation of Article 1of Protocol No. 1 to the Convention.
III EUROPEAN UNION
Mielle Bulterman
A. EU Human Rights Discussion Forum
On 30 November and 1December 1999, the first EU Human Rights Discussion Forum
took place in Brussels. This Forum was organised by the Finnish Presidency and the
European Commission. It provided an opportunity for representatives
of
EU-institutions,
non-governmental organisations, academic experts and governments to discuss the
European Union's human rights policy. The recently published EU Annual Report on
Human Rights was used as input in the discussions. I
The speakers at the opening session on the 30th November included Tarja Halonen
(Minister for Foreign Affairs
of
Finland), Chris Patten (Member of the European
Commission responsible for external relations), Philip Alston (Professor at the European
University Institute) and Chris Kruger (Deputy Secretary General, Council
of
Europe).
During the morning session on 1 December, discussions between the participants took
place in working groups. Within the four working groups the following topics were
discussed: the legal status
of
human rights in the European Union; EU cooperation in the
field of human rights; the development of the European Union's human rights policy; and
racism and non-discrimination.
At the closing session, reports from the four working groups were presented. While the
publication
of
the first EU Annual Report on Human Rights and the initiative to organise
a discussion forum were considered to be positive developments, some criticism was
voiced too. Thus it was argued that the EU Annual Report on Human Rights, adopted by
the Council, is descriptive rather than analytical - let alone critical. It was said to focus
too much on the external human rights situation; it should address human rights within the
European Union more extensively. It was also suggested that next sessions of the Forum
should also be open to NGOs from third countries. With respect to the EU Charter of
Fundamental Rights (see below under D), it was observed that the adoption of an EU
Charter might very well be combined with accession of the EU to the European
Convention on Human Rights and that the EU Charter should in principle apply to all
within the jurisdiction
of
the EU Member States, and not only to EU citizens.
B. Turkey Formally Accepted as Candidate Member State
At the Helsinki European Council of 10 and
11
December 1999, the European Council
decided to formally accept Turkey as a candidate Member State, as was suggested by the
Commission in its second regular report on the progress towards accession by Turkey.2
The Presidency Conclusions of the Helsinki European Council state in this respect:
'The European Council welcomes recent positive developments in Turkey as noted in the
Commission's progress report, as well as its intention to continue its reforms towards
complying with the Copenhagen criteria. Turkey is a candidate State destined to join the Union
ISee EU
Hum~n
Rights News, NQHR, Vol. 17,
No.4,
1999, p. 508.
2See idem.
102
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