Amnesty International's report calls for policies that ensure the EU does not abandon its international obligations to protect refugees and for more EU supervision of human rights compliance within EU countries. It further recommends concrete measures at EU level to combat racism, xenophobia and discrimination, and the protection of victims of human trafficking.

Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said: 'It seems that the EU human rights machine is running out of steam.

'The EU has the ambition and the potential to be the most powerful global force for human rights. While there have been achievements in certain areas, overall there is still too little to show in terms of impact and effectiveness. We are looking to the Irish EU Presidency to inject more energy into the human rights agenda.

'It is not enough for the EU to preach human rights abroad. First and foremost, Europe must look to itself. Amnesty International has detailed serious human rights concerns in most of the existing and prospective EU member states. This is something that must be addressed at EU level as well. Otherwise, the EU's human rights credibility in its international relations will always be called into question.'

Among Amnesty International's Recommendations to the Irish EU Presidency:

Internally:

• Asylum
  The Irish Presidency should ensure that EU member states do not shift their responsibility for protection of refugees to third countries where adequate levels of protection and durable solutions are not available.
• Immigration and borders
  All decisions taken to combat illegal immigration should be subject to effective monitoring mechanisms and a human rights impact assessment.
• Human trafficking
  Efforts to combat trafficking must include human rights protection for victims of trafficking through appropriate legislative measures.
• Human rights compliance in EU countries
  The Council of Ministers must give a robust and practical response to the Commission's Communication on Article 7 of the Treaty addressing the issue of EU-level accountability for serious breaches of human rights within an EU member state.
• Judicial cooperation
  Increased judicial cooperation must be underpinned by adequate procedural safeguards. The European Arrest Warrant should be implemented in all states with appropriate human rights guarantees.
• Racism and discrimination
  There needs to be pressure on member states to transpose the EU Race Directive (which should have been implemented by July 2003) into national laws across the EU.

Externally:

• The EU and the UN Commission on Human rights
  The Irish Presidency should bolster the UNCHR's core function of monitoring, reporting and public scrutiny of situations of gross human rights abuse and further integrate the EU's work on the UNCHR into regular political dialogues with third countries.
• Human rights clause in EU association agreements
  Human rights concerns should be stressed in political dialogue with all Mediterranean countries in particular, to complement the Commission's efforts to develop National Action Plans on human rights and democratisation.
• Torture
  The Irish Presidency should redouble efforts to implement the EU guidelines on torture. The proposed regulation on trade in torture equipment should be adopted by the Council of Ministers without further delay so that controls are in place by the time of the accession of the ten new member states on 1 May.
• Human rights defenders
  Welcoming the announcement of guidelines for EU policy on human rights defenders, Amnesty urges the Irish Presidency to invite the EU's Latin American and Caribbean partners to use the opportunity of the May summit in Mexico to put in place a roadmap for the implementation of the principles of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
• European Security Strategy
  Human rights responsibility must be made an integral component of crisis management and of long-term engagement in post-conflict resolution.
• Arms control
  The Irish Presidency is urged to support efforts towards the adoption of an international Arms Treaty by 2006.