The EU High Representative, Baroness Ashton, today appointed former MEP, Stavros Lambrinidis, as the new EU Special Representative for Human Rights - a newly created position with the full backing of the European Parliament.

Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE group leader in the European Parliament) welcomed the appointment:

"The appointment of a dedicated EU representative to defend and uphold respect for Human Rights around the globe sends a very powerful signal to all the European Union's partners that we take the matter extremely seriously and will henceforth place extra emphasis on this as a central plank of EU foreign policy under the overall direction of the External Action Service."

"Stavros Lambrinidis has the profile and personality to develop this role and make the EU's soft power felt across the world as a standard bearer of basic human rights and democracy."

Edward McMillan Scott (Lib Dem, UK), European Parliament Vice President responsible for Human Rights and Democracy also welcomed the appointment:

"Stavros is an old friend and colleague and a former Vice-President of Parliament himself as well as, latterly, foreign minister for Greece. As a lawyer he will bring discipline and rigour to the new Human Rights and democracy strategy and action plan adopted by EU foreign ministers on 25th June."

"Furthermore, as a former MEP, he will understand that the public expects the European Union to do more in this field. The latest Eurobarometer survey of 25,000 citizens shows that the highest appetite for EU action lies in the field of Human Rights and Democracy."