13 July 2007 - British Green MEPs Jean Lambert and Caroline Lucas have hit out at the Liberal Democrats for undermining the EU’s role in protecting human rights.

Liberal Euro-MP Graham Watson yesterday - leader of the European ALDE Group, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe - reneged on an earlier deal to ‘upgrade’ the European Parliament’s ‘Human Rights’ sub-committee into a decision-making full committee.

Dr Lucas, South-East England’s Green Party MEP, said: "This is a real blow for the EU’s ability to prioritise human rights protection. It will make it easier to sideline human rights considerations in future.

"The Liberals would have done well to listen to the citizens of Europe - people don’t want just a free-trade zone, they want an EU that protects and enhances human rights and the environment. Mr Watson has just thumbed his nose at all of us who want the EU to play a role in upholding universal human rights across the union."

Dr Lucas and Mrs Lambert, Green Party MEP for London, who was named MEP for Human Rights in 2005 and sits on the Human Rights Committee, added:

"This is incredible: a party that prides itself on its record defending human rights, the Liberals in the European Parliament, has backed away from boosting the EU’s ability to do so.

"I deeply regret that the Liberals have not kept to their word and given human rights a stronger profile in the Parliament by improving the status of the committee."

The MEPs’ comments came after Green and Socialist members of the committee walked out in protest at Mr Watson’s decision yesterday.

 

ENDS