FCO in Action

Seminar: Model Europe - human rights and the global EU

How can the EU help to promote Human Rights worldwide?

The Delivering Global Europe seminar series is intended to encourage a British and European conversation about how we can ensure the EU delivers real value for UK and EU citizens.

Video by British Satellite News

Model Europe - human rights and the global EU

Photo of Jim Murphy MP (centre) with Tobias King, EU Commision (left), Deborah Summers, guardian.co.uk (right) and Lotte Leicht, Human Rights Watch (far right) at the “Model Europe – Human Rights and the Global EU” seminar in London, 19 May 2008.

Date: 19 May 2008
Venue: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London
Speakers:

  • Jim Murphy MP, Minister for Europe
  • Deborah Summers, Guardian Online
  • Lotte Leicht, Human Rights Watch
  • Tobias King, European Commission

Participants included representatives from the European Commission, UK Government, Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, Stonewall, Save the Children, the TUC, and other leading civil society organisations.

Discussions in the seminar

Topics raised in discussion in the seminar included the following:

  • the need for transparency in EU decision-making on human rights
  • progress on human rights issues within the EU's borders
  • how to coordinate the human rights work of NGOs and international organisations including the EU, Council of Europe and OSCE
  • balancing human rights with other priorities in foreign policy
  • improving access to European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) funding
  • the role of the new EU External Action Service in promoting human rights
  • how the EU can influence countries beyond its immediate neighbourhood who are not potential candidates for EU membership
  • neighbourhood policy with North African countries

Related documents

Speech by Jim Murphy MP: Model Europe - human rights and the global EU

Have your say

How do you think the EU can help to promote Human Rights worldwide?

You can use the box below to send us your comments on this or any of the other subjects raised in the Delivering Global Europe seminar series.

We'll read and consider all comments submitted, and pick a selection to appear on this site. We will publish a response to the discussions in the seminar series in June 2008.

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