Cox to tackle human rights ‘hands-on’

Date: 23/05/02

PAT Cox has pledged to take a 'hands-on' approach to improve the European Parliament's effectiveness at tackling human rights issues.

Speaking at the opening of Amnesty International's new EU office in Brussels, the assembly president acknowledged concerns that the Parliament could do more in the field.

Cox said he planned to meet the leaders of all the relevant parliamentary committees to discuss how the assembly can improve its role as a guardian of human rights. Amnesty and other groups would be invited to submit their views, he added.

Dick Oosting, director of Amnesty's EU office, said he was 'heartened' by Cox's comments. 'We have been disappointed by the European Parliament's failure so far to assert its accountability role. I am, therefore, very pleased to see the president's commitment to a more direct engagement with us on the question of how to shape and sharpen the assembly's role on human rights,' Oosting added.

Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament, has pledged to take a 'hands-on' approach to improve the assembly's effectiveness at tackling human rights issues.