The Union's policy and international action are also guided by its commitments and obligations concerning human rights and development, including the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the UN Declaration on the Right to Development.

The special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance is based on an integral concept of sustainable development as recognized by international conventions and instruments such as the UN Declaration on the Right to Development of 1986, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development of 1992, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work of 1998, the UN Millennium Declaration of 2000 and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development of 2002.

They attach particular importance to respect for fundamental social rights, including the right to development; - they recognize the essential contribution civil society can make in the process of development of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and as an essential factor for greater understanding and closeness between peoples; - they accordingly agree to strengthen and/or introduce the necessary instruments of decentralized cooperation to encourage exchanges between those active in development within the framework of national laws: leaders of political and civil society, the cultural and religious world, universities, the research co ...[+++]mmunity, the media, organizations, the trade unions and public and private enterprises; - on this basis, they recognize the importance of encouraging contacts and exchanges between young people in the context of programmes for decentralized cooperation; - they will encourage actions of support for democratic institutions and for the strengthening of the rule of law and civil society; - they recognize that current population trends represent a priority challenge which must be counterbalanced by appropriate policies to accelerate economic take-off; - they acknowledge the importance of the role played by migration in their relationships. They agree to strengthen their cooperation to reduce migratory pressures, among other things through vocational training programmes and programmes of assistance for job creation.

4. Ministers reaffirmed that relations between the two regions were based on closely connected and mutually reinforcing common values and principles, inter alia: - representative democracy, the rule of law and constitutional order; - full respect for universal human rights and political and civil liberties; - the right to development as a basic right, now expressed in the form of sustainable development based on economic growth, the creation of productive jobs, the conservation of the environment and a fairer distribution of income ...[+++]as fundamental factors in maintaining peace and security in the region; - cooperation between the two regions informed by the principles of solidarity, support for social and regional development, combating poverty, the defence of the most disadvantaged sectors, as well as greater opportunities and economic and commercial complementarity.

In terms of voting, this trend was particularly evident on the right to development where Canada had opposed the paragraphs which called for the need to discuss a permanent follow-up mechanism for the right to development; the necessity to evaluate the impact of some specific international economic financial issue on the enjoyment of human rights; and the request for independent experts on the right to development.

These various aspects will be considered as part of an answer to the question set out in the terms of reference for the committee's hearings, that is, how to preserve Canada's interests and those of smaller and poorer countries while at the same time allowing for trade liberalization and the promotion of important aims relating to values, culture, environment and rights.