A/HRC/10/87 page 10 41. Another delegate questioned why the mandate of the Intergovernmental Working Group was being discussed since it was well established and defined by its supervisory body, the Human Rights Council. 42. The representative of the European Union reiterated that the position of the European Union had been made very clear since the beginning. The position was that the European Union was not in a position to agree on any new items for future work. While the European Union did not wish to block any future discussion, it could not participate in reaching conclusions and recommendations by consensus on the future work of the Intergovernmental Working Group. 43. One representative recommended maintaining a holistic approach with regard to the future work of the Intergovernmental Working Group. 44. In reiterating the position of his group, the representative of the African Group underscored that the Intergovernmental Working Group was not a subsidiary body of the Preparatory Committee for the Durban Review Conference. Therefore, there was no reason for it to await the outcome of the substantive session of the Preparatory Committee to continue its work. 45. One representative expressed dismay that the positions expressed by the European Union seemed to contradict both the consensus taken at the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee as well as its organizational session (held from 27 to 31 August 2007) of which the European Union was part. The delegate also highlighted the fact that work undertaken after 2001 within the context of the follow-up to and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action was carried out at the level of ambassadors in Geneva and within the context of the Intergovernmental Working Group. 46. The delegate further recalled that some of the critical themes contained in the Declaration and Programme of Action such as “historical injustices” were themes that emanated from the Ministerial Segment during the 2001 Durban Conference, in which all delegations taking part in the Intergovernmental Working Group were represented at the ministerial level. The delegate further suggested that the Chairperson should approach the political heads of delegations represented in the Intergovernmental Working Group to deal with some of the sensitive issues at the level of his counterparts. 47. As an observer delegation, the representative of the African Union asserted that it was important that States of Africa and the European Union work together to achieve their common aims within not only the framework of the Intergovernmental Working Group, but of the entire human rights system. He submitted that the two sides participated in a constructive summit-level meeting in Lisbon recently and that they agreed in their declaration, among other things, to “address the common contemporary challenges for our two continents”. They also decided to establish a strategic partnership underpinned by the Joint Strategy and Action Plan to strengthen inter alia their cooperation in achieving objectives in various areas of endeavours, including human rights and good governance.