Ms Bridget Sleap:

The EU's common position at the OEWG has remained consistent throughout the six sessions. It has not ruled out the possibility of a convention but it has said it wants to see existing instruments implemented.

Slovenia, an EU member state, has now come out in favour of a convention, and we have heard that a significant event coming up is the report of the independent expert in September 2016. Although it is to the human rights council and is, therefore, separate, the outcome of the report on the extent to which existing instruments are being implemented effectively will have a significant impact on some member states' positions, and this may affect the EU position. There is a diversity of opinion beneath the common EU position and it may well be affected by the independent expert's report. Some of the arguments they are using, such as treaty fatigue, are similar to the ones used in the discussion on the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities before the drafting stage.