The Foreign Affairs committee called on the Council on Thursday to appoint a high-level envoy with an international reputation, tasked with raising the EU's human rights profile worldwide, to the new post of EU Special Representative for Human Rights created in line with the EP's repeated demands.

Emergency financial assistance from the EU for cash-strapped neighbours must depend on respect for human rights and democracy, said Parliament on Thursday. MEPs also oppose plans to cut Parliament out of future decisions on granting this aid.

Parlament ve čtvrtek schváleném usnesení vyzval švýcarskou vládu, aby odvolala “diskriminační a nezákonné” rozhodnutí opět zavést kvóty na výdej povolení k dlouhodobému pobytu pro státní příslušníky Polska, Litvy, Lotyšska, Estonska, Slovinska, Slovenska, České republiky a Maďarska.

Poslanci v dnes přijatém usnesení kritizují nedávné rozhodnutí ukrajinského Nejvyššího specializovaného soudu odročit projednávání ve věci odvolání bývalé premiérky Julie Tymošenkové proti sedmiletému rozsudku. Parlament varuje před natahováním soudního procesu, odsuzuje použití násilí vězeňskou stráží a připomíná Ukrajině závazek rychle a nestranně přezkoumat jakékoli stížnosti na kruté zacházení.

EU musí společně čelit nekalé konkurenci z Číny a obnovit vyrovnanou obchodní bilanci, uvádí Parlament ve středu přijatém usnesení. Prvním krokem by podle poslanců mělo být získat jasnou představu o pronikání Číny do ekonomiky EU. Pro tyto účely by měl vzniknout subjekt, který by sledoval čínské investice do evropských firem a nákupy evropských dluhopisů.

Hopes for Libya's June elections, the first in almost 50 years, tempered by worries that arms may be smuggled through its porous borders to restless neighbouring countries, were voiced by Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs at a meeting with Libya's Deputy Prime Minister, Mustafa Abushagur, on Tuesday evening.

The Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday urged the EU to take action on the crises in West, Central and East Africa, particularly the tensions between Sudan and South Sudan. MEPs raised questions about China's role in Sudan – South Sudan relations and said China had been more proactive than the EU and could only gain from the EU's hesitation.

MEPs welcomed Albania's progress towards EU candidate status in a Foreign Affairs Committee exchange of views with Albanian government and opposition representatives on Monday. The electoral and legal systems should take priority in reform efforts, said MEPs, with a view to the presidential election to be held in July.

MEPs say the fight against piracy off the east-African coast cannot be won by military means alone. In a resolution adopted on Thursday, by 434 votes to 100, with five abstentions, they urge member states to strengthen the EU naval protection force and finance efforts to tackle the causes of piracy. They also call for special courts for pirates.

The EU must do more to promote democracy and stability in its southern Mediterranean neighbourhood by boosting mutually-beneficial trade relations in the wake of the Arab Spring, says Parliament. Efforts should be focused on small businesses as the main drivers of job creation and wealth.