Mr. Pat Kelly:

I would just like to confirm that there is as much concern at EU level about the overall human rights situation in Bahrain. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy has commented on it and it has attracted quite an amount of attention in the European Parliament. The EU is trying to be supportive of Bahrain as it goes through a difficult transition and has offered assistance to the process of national dialogue to try to further that. Progress has been slow because it is seen as the best hope for Bahrain and for introducing reforms, particularly the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, which made strong recommendations about the need to safeguard human rights. We are satisfied that our EU partners share our concerns about the human rights situation.