33. Deplores the stagnant, unacceptable situation with regard to human rights, democracy and political prisoners, and the lack of progress in respecting the values and standards promoted by the Union; insists that critical engagement and strict conditionality are needed on the part of the Union, together with a more generous and open attitude towards civil society and NGOs, which should be supported to monitor and deliver reforms; urges the Belarusian authorities to participate in the Dialogue on Modernisation and start negotiations ...[+++] with the EU on visa facilitation and readmission agreements in order to promote people-to-people contacts;

33. Welcomes the updating of the EU's policy on the ICC of 12 July 2011; notes that the Rome Statute of the ICC establishes a mechanism of ‘last resort’ to bring to justice the individuals responsible for crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes and the crime of aggression, as provided by the principle of complementarity enshrined in the Rome Statute; recognises the Commission's efforts to establish an ‘EU Complementarity Toolkit’ aimed at supporting the development of national capacities and generating political will for the investigation and prosecution of alleged international crimes, and stresses the importance of thorough con ...[+++]sultations with Member States, Parliament and civil society organisations in order to finalise the toolkit; welcomes the efforts of civil society in Member States to support complementarity efforts in countries where crimes under international law and massive human rights violations have occurred, and encourages the continuation of such efforts; encourages the EU and its Member States to adopt a set of internal guidelines outlining a code of conduct for contacts with persons wanted by the ICC; calls on all Member States (notably the Republic of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg and Portugal) to enact national legislation on cooperation with the Court and conclude framework agreements with the ICC in order to facilitate cooperation, in particular to ensure the execution of arrest warrants and other Court requests;

9. Takes the view that EU Special Representatives should be further developed rather than gradually phased out, especially to cover countries and regions where the EU does not have a diplomatic mission; considers it essential that, given the importance of human rights issues in conflict and post-conflict situations, all EU Special Representatives should have a mandate which encompasses civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, the rights of women and children, International Humanitarian Law and international justice, and specifically mentions promoting and ensuring respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law; stresses that EU Special Representatives are the focal points for internal guidance, expertise ...[+++]and advocacy, and logical interlocutors for third countries and other non-EU actors; welcomes the designation of at least one individual in each EU delegation as a contact person to lead human rights policy coordination, mainstreaming and monitoring;

9. Takes the view that EU Special Representatives should be further developed rather than gradually phased out, especially to cover countries and regions where the EU does not have a diplomatic mission; considers it essential that, given the importance of human rights issues in conflict and post-conflict situations, all EU Special Representatives should have a mandate which encompasses civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, the rights of women and children, International Humanitarian Law and international justice, and specifically mentions promoting and ensuring respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law; stresses that EU Special Representatives are the focal points for internal guidance, expertise ...[+++]and advocacy, and logical interlocutors for third countries and other non-EU actors; welcomes the designation of at least one individual in each EU delegation as a contact person to lead human rights policy coordination, mainstreaming and monitoring;

favouring contacts concerning the application of protection in cases where the protection of public figures has to be assured in two or more Member States between the relevant authorities within the Member States responsible for rendering protection services, either through the contact points or by means of direct contacts between the responsible services, as communicated by the contact points’.

Let me tell you very frankly, President-in-Office, from my contacts with all the Member States – which, because of my responsibility, I have to keep on a daily basis, especially with the new Member States – I know they look to you and to the role of your Presidency with this expectation.