Rapport från EU-föreningen Underlag till styrelsemöte 1-2 maj 1999

Summary report about EU-actions undertaken by the Swedish section from June 1998- April 1999
Actions regarding asylum issues will be reported separately by our refugee coordinator, Cecilia Kaijser.

Minimum action: Every week all external reports including urgent actions and news services (weekly mailing) are sent to the respective country desks and the department for International Law and Human Rights in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

AI's Annual report
The annual report was sent to each of the parties in the European Parliament, with a cover letter to all 22 MEPs enclosing an order form (several MEPs ordered the report).

Pinochet case
Letter to MEPs asking them to send an appeal to Jack Straw ( model letter was enclosed). Response from two MEPs, thanking us for the initiative.

USA campaign
Report and cover letter sent to Swedish MEPs. Regular contacts with the department for International Law and Human Rights in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, among others the COHOM representative. Letters, e-mails, meetings and telephone contacts regarding the death penalty and other issues.

EU Human Rights Policy
A letter summarizing AI's concerns + the external report "Leading by Example: A Human Rights Agenda
for the European Union for the Year 2000" was sent to Ambassador Catherine von Heidenstam before the COHOM meeting in Brussels on 2 December.

A letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs at the occasion of the Vienna Summit and of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the UDHR.

ASEM
Frequent contacts with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, both Asia desk and HR department.
Letter + external documents sent to the SOM (Senior Officials Meeting) delegate and to the Minister for Foreign Affairs asking that human rights issues be included on the agenda. Reply from the Minister, stating that she covered several of AI's concerns in her speech. Meeting with officials from the China desk and the department for International Law and Human Rights. Request for Amnesty to be invited to the forthcoming ASEM seminar on human rights in Beijing in July (no promises were given!)

Syria Section level Action
Letters outlining AI's concerns regarding the EU-Syra Agreement were sent to:
a) the following MEPs before the Euromediterranean Partnership meeting in Stuttgart on 19 April, Staffan Burenstam Linder
Hadar Cars, Per Gahrton and Maj Britt Theorin.

b) COHOM representative in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

UN Commission on Human Rights
Letter to the Swedish Head of delegation, Ambassador Catherine von Heidenstam outlining AI's concerns regarding priority countries and thematic issues. The Amnesty report was widely distributed within the Ministry.
The report was sent to each of the parties in the European Parliament. Lobby-action towards the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Swedish Parliament.
Joint meeting with other NGOs at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to meet and discuss with the Swedish delegation.
Separate meeting with two people from the delegation. Several contacts with officials preparing the speech for the Minister for Foreign Affairs (at the CHR).

EU-China dialogue
Meeting with officials from the China desk and the department for International Law and Human Rights together with Rory Mungoven from the IS. Discussion about the (lack of) strategy on China within the EU. Material + letter sent to MEP, Per Gahrton.

Turkey
External report + cover letter sent to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. (Several contacts with Swedish MPs , especially to inform a parliamentary delegation going to Turkey beginning of May this year.