EU Human Rights and Democratisation

The European Union's Human rights & Democratisation Policy - activities of the EU relating to human rights.

EU demands 'immediate halt' to executions in Gambia — 26 August 2012, 20:46 CET

The European Union called Sunday for an "immediate halt" to executions in Gambia after reports that President Yahya Jammeh had begun carrying out a threat to clear death row by mid-September.

Council of Europe urges long-term fix in France Roma row — 21 August 2012, 21:28 CET

The Council of Europe urged France on Tuesday to "go beyond short-term measures" for its Roma population, as the country seeks to end a row over its treatment of the ethnic migrants.

EU slams Russia over Pussy Riot sentence — 17 August 2012, 19:17 CET

The EU's foreign affairs chief says a "serious question mark" hung over Russian justice and calls on Moscow to "reverse" its two-year jail sentences for three members of female music act Pussy Riot for protesting against President Vladimir Putin.

Lithuania opens probe into Belarus 'teddy bear' stunt — 16 August 2012, 13:34 CET

Lithuanian prosecutors have launched an official probe into a stunt by Swedish activists who flew a plane into Belarus from Lithuania to drop hundreds of "freedom teddy bears."

EU keeping close watch on French Roma expulsions — 10 August 2012, 23:33 CET

The Commission is keeping a close eye on a new French purge on Roma camps to ensure expulsions are not arbitrary and discriminatory, a spokeswoman said on Friday.

Former Greek FM to head new EU human rights portfolio — 26 July 2012, 00:28 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday formally appointed former Greek foreign minister Stavros Lambrinidis as the EU's special representative for human rights.

Ex Greek minister Lambrinidis to head EU human rights — 24 July 2012, 22:56 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has named former Greek foreign minister Stavros Lambrinidis as the EU's special representative for human rights, diplomatic sources said Tuesday.

EU criticises Belarus over political prisoners — 23 July 2012, 22:47 CET

The European Union's top diplomat on Monday blasted Belarus over its ongoing opposition clampdown, saying there is "no place" for political prisoners in Europe.

Belarus FM to join EU talks — 21 July 2012, 11:16 CET

Belarus Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov, whose country has been in the EU firing line over rights issues, will attend talks with European Union counterparts next week, diplomats said Friday.

Football: UEFA fines Cassano for 'discriminatory' comments — 20 July 2012, 15:39 CET

European football's governing body on Friday said it had fined Italy forward Antonio Cassano for homophobic comments he made during a news conference at Euro 2012.

Hungary amends judicial law after EU criticism — 05 July 2012, 22:27 CET

Hungary's parliament has adopted amendments to its law on the judiciarythat will limit the authority of a new body, which European officials had said was excessive.

Ukraine postpones Tymoshenko appeal to after Euro — 26 June 2012, 12:42 CET

Ukraine's high court on Tuesday postponed the appeal of jailed ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko against her seven-year jail term for abuse of power until after the end of its hosting of Euro 2012 football.

EU rights body warns against 'complacency' — 20 June 2012, 17:00 CET

The eurozone crisis must not distract Europe from human rights, with the next few months crucial for agreeing common asylum, disability and data protection policy, says the bloc's rights agency.

EU urges Croatia to respect rights at gay march — 06 June 2012, 13:47 CET

The European Union called on Croatia Wednesday to ensure respect for human rights at a weekend Gay Pride march after last year's event ended in violence that injured a dozen people.

Half of Roma population lacks household sanitation: study — 23 May 2012, 17:48 CET

Only one in six of Europe's young Romas have studied beyond primary school, while half of the population lacks a toilet, shower or electricity, a new report said on Wednesday.

Ukraine refuses to probe Tymoshenko bruises: prosecutors — 04 May 2012, 15:37 CET

Ukraine refused Friday to launch criminal proceedings over the alleged prison beating of ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko and said her bruising probably came from her bumping into something instead.

Ukraine paper says Germany 'unchanged since Third Reich' — 04 May 2012, 14:12 CET

A Ukrainian daily close to the party of President Viktor Yanukovych Friday published a startling editorial accusing Germany of not changing since the Third Reich and still trying to dictate its rule.

EU rights charter equal to constitution: Austrian court — 04 May 2012, 13:32 CET

Austrian legal decisions will be considered anti-constitutional from now on if they violate European fundamental rights and not just the country's basic law, the constitutional court ruled Friday.

Bulgarian president to skip Yalta summit — 07 May 2012, 21:08 CET

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev will not attend a Yalta summit of central European states in mid-May, his office said Friday, citing concerns over the state of human rights in Ukraine.

Ukraine denounces 'destructive' Euro boycott — 03 May 2012, 19:32 CET

Ukraine on Thursday denounced a threatened EU boycott of its Euro 2012 football matches as a "destructive" attempt to politicise sport that will hurt mutual understanding and ties.

German president rejects Ukraine invitation — 26 April 2012, 17:02 CET

German President Joachim Gauck will not attend a meeting in Ukraine due to mounting concerns about the treatment of jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, his office said Thursday.

Europe strikes rights court reform pact — 20 April 2012, 22:26 CET

The Council of Europe's 47 member states agreed a declaration Friday aimed at making the European Court of Human Rights more efficient, but rejected more radical changes proposed by host Britain.

European rights court reform agreed to target backlog — 19 April 2012, 22:59 CET

The Council of Europe agreed to reform the European Court of Human Rights to stop it continuing to be swamped by cases, according to a draft declaration at their conference in Britain on Thursday.

Ukraine jails Tymoshenko ally for three years — 06 April 2012, 15:42 CET

The party of jailed Ukrainian former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko strongly protested on Friday after one of her former cabinet members was sentenced to three years in jail on abuse of power charges.

Hungary amends justice law after EU threats — 27 March 2012, 19:49 CET

Hungary's government submitted Tuesday an amendment to its controversial new law on the judiciary after the European Commission threatened legal action.