4. Reminds the Belarusian authorities that the existence and unhindered political action of democratic political parties and of a strong, independent and lively civil society is of vital importance for the proper functioning of any democratic state; therefore calls on the Belarusian authorities to guarantee the unity of political and social human rights, in particular in that moment the democratic freedoms and political rights for all the citizens of Belarus, including no ...[+++]n-governmental NGOs and all democratic parties;

33. Considers it important to strengthen the SEPA governance and to give the renewed SEPA Council a stronger role, and that this new governing body should consist of representatives of the main relevant stakeholders and be established in such a way as to provide for democratic control through the Commission and other EU authorities; proposes that a renewed SEPA Council should lead the work, identify a time schedule and work plan, decide on the priorities and major issues, thus arbitrating disagreements between stakeholders; stresses that democratic control should be ensured through the Commission, with the ECB and the EBA having promin ...[+++]ent roles;

Further to an official invitation from the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on 2 May 2005 the Council adopted Joint Action 2005/355/CFSP on the European Union mission to provide advice and assistance for security sector reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (1) (EUSEC RD Congo), in particular in order to support the transition process in the DRC, including the formation of a restructured and integrated national army, as established by the Global and Inclusive Agreement signed by the ...[+++]Congolese parties in Pretoria on 17 December 2002, followed by the Final Act signed in Sun City on 2 April 2003.

However, HADEP has been banned by the Constitutional Court and DEHAP is facing proceedings in view of its closure.

With regard to the broader issue of respect for fundamental rights and specifically women’s rights in Nigeria and the rest of Africa, the Council is determined to pursue the policy which it has long been implementing in this field and, in particular, by means of the following instruments: the Cotonou Agreement, Article 9(2) which lays down the parties’ obligations, their international commitments, in relation to the respect for human rights, and reaffirms the equality between men and women, the Cairo declaration and action plan approved at th ...[+++]e Africa-Europe Summit held in Cairo in April 2000, which insists on respect for human rights, the Common Position relating to human rights, democratic principles, the Rule of Law and good government in Africa 98/350/PESC and Council Regulation (EC) 965/99, which establishes the requirements for the application of Community development cooperation actions which contribute to achieving the general objective of development and consolidating democracy under the Rule of Law, as well as respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms and specifically Common Position 01/373/PESC on Nigeria, which expressly mentions the respect for human rights.

So bearing all these problems in mind, the proposals set out in my report include: gradual application of the measures proposed in the action plan, a study of the real needs, such as that contained in the first part, which indicates where the most urgent problems lie; for example, first the economy and democratic institutions need to be developed and infrastructures need to be created in Albania and then the Union can think about ...[+++]signing refugee and migrant repatriation agreements.