A report approved in plenary session by the European Parliament calls for high-level EU human rights envoy with strong mandate and tasked with raising the EU's human rights profile worldwide. For her part, Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union stressed that she is looking for somebody with an established track record and international experience in human rights, as well a strong understanding of EU policy.

The European Parliament called on the Council throughout a report adopted on 13 of June 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 its repeated demands. The Foreign Affairs Council is expected to appoint the new envoy at the end of June. Recently the Council underlined the need for the Human Rights Council to maintain its focus freedom of expression.

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, underlined that the Member States have put forward some excellent candidates, and she is looking forward to a swift appointment. Ms Ashton also added that the broad consensus is the result of broad consultation. This has helped to ensure that the thinking of MEPs is reflected in the draft mandate that she presented to the Council. The mandate will be longer than usual: 2 years, instead of 1. According to Ms Ashton, it is important that the mandate should be long enough to deliver on issues that are inherently long term because this is the first time ever that the EU will have appointed a thematic EUSR.

In addition, MEPs call for sufficient funding and staff to be allocated to the new EUSR. They insist that the nominee for the post should attend a hearing at Parliament and that the EUSR should report regularly to Parliament on the human rights situation in the world.