III European Union
| Date | 01 March 2006 |
| Author | Mielle Bulterman |
| DOI | 10.1177/016934410602400107 |
| Published date | 01 March 2006 |
| Subject Matter | Part B: Human Rights News |
132
III EUROPEAN UNION
MIELLE BULTERMAN
1. EUROPEAN UNION ANNUAL REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS
On 3 October 2005, the Council adopted the EU’s 7
th
Annual Report on Human
Rights. Like its predecessors, the report records actions and policies of the
European Union in the field of human rights. The 7
th
report covers the period from
1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005. The report contains some important changes in
comparison to previous editions. It contains a contribution of the European
Parliament on its activities in the field of human rights. Another change is that the
internal and external human rights action is no longer treated in separate chapters.
Not explicitly mentioned is the fact that in comparison with the 2004 Report, the
2005 Report contains scarce reference to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Last year a full paragraph was dedicated to the EU Charter, whereas the 2005 Report
contains only three brief references to the Charter.
2. OPENING OF ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS WITH CROATIA AND
TURKEY
On 3 October 2005 accession negotiations were opened with Croatia and Turkey.
The negotiating framework for Turkey reflects the ambiguous position of the
European Union Member States towards the envisaged EU Membership of Turkey.
The possibility that Turkey will not be able to fulfil the requirements for accession to
the EU is explicitly mentioned in the negotiating framework. It should then be
ensured that ‘Turkey is fully anchored in the European structures through the
strongest possible bonds’. It is also explicitly stated that the negotiation may be
suspended in case of a serious and persistent breach of the principles of liberty,
democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law,
principles upon which the Union is founded. The documents relating to the
accession negotiation with Turkey are available on internet.
1
The negotiation on accession with Croatia is also made conditional upon respect
for the principles upon which the Union is founded. The possibility of an
unsuccessful outcome of the negotiation process, however, is not explicitly
mentioned in the negotiating framework for Croatia.
2
On 9 November 2005, the Commission published its Progress Reports on Croatia
and Turkey. These reports describe the political and economic developments in
both countries as well as their ability to transpose and implement EU legislation.
According to the Commission Turkey sufficiently fulfils the Copenhagen political
criteria for accession. However, human rights violations continue to occur. Of
1
www.europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/turkey/docs.htm.
2
www.europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/croatia/key_documents.htm.
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