Accession to the convention, however, does not increase protection for human rights.

This is an area which will be particularly affected by the Union's accession to the convention.

Accession to the convention will, therefore, give the Union credibility in dialogue with third countries on human rights.

Accession to the convention will partly make up for these limitations by ensuring external judicial supervision of all aspects of the Union's activity.

There is no need for formal accession to the convention for the Union and the Commission to be guided by the important principles it contains.

Moreover, needless complications might undermine the legitimacy and popularity of the process of EU accession to the convention.

The EU's accession to the convention is a unique experiment, but it must not jeopardise what is already in place as regards the enforcement of human rights.

The report that we will adopt tomorrow is realising this mandate, which the European Union has had since the Treaty of Lisbon required accession to the convention.

In accordance with Article 4 of the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty, State Parties must destroy their stockpiled mines within four years after their accession to the convention.

The United States Senate should provide its advice and consent to U.S. accession to the Convention on the Law of the Sea by the end of 2009.

On May 27, 2003, the Republic of Korea deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention and became the fifth member of the NPAFC.

Accession to the convention will provide citizens with protection against the actions of the EU and its institutions, just like the protection they enjoy at the moment against the actions of Member States.

Thanks to accession to the convention, EU institutions will be subject to external, independent supervision in terms of conformity of the legislation and activities of the EU with the European Convention on Human Rights.

A further practical benefit of the EU's accession to the convention will be a guarantee of protection not only for EU citizens and other persons in the EU, but also for all individuals falling within the jurisdiction of the Union outside its territory.

Along with my colleagues, I welcome the Union's accession to the convention but, at the same time, I ask for a very careful analysis of the procedure we put in place, as we need to protect citizens' interests and, at the same time, to preserve what is working well.

Notwithstanding any statements of respect for the position of Member States in relation to ECHR, EU accession to the convention will complicate and possibly hinder the freedom of Member States to derogate from or individually interpret aspects of the ECHR.