A4-0066/98

European Parliament recommendation to the Council on Western Sahara

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Rule 92 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to Article J.7, second paragraph, of the EU Treaty,

- having regard to its resolutions of 16 March 1995 on Western Sahara ((OJ C 89, 10.4.1995, p.159.)) and 13 July 1995 on the trial of eight demonstrators in Morocco ((OJ C 249, 25.9.1995, p. 159.)),

- having regard to United Nations Security Council resolutions 658 and 691,

- having regard to the draft recommendation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy (A4-0066/98),

A. having regard to the peace plan for Western Sahara drawn up and adopted in United Nations Security Council resolutions 658 and 691 on the establishment of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1113 extending MINURSO's mandate and welcoming the agreements concluded between the parties in Houston,

B. having regard to the unique opportunity offered by the results achieved during the negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front, where a compromise was reached which could lead to the holding of the referendum on self-determination towards the end of the current year,

C. having regard to the complexity of the agreements and the fragile nature of all the planned stages before the holding of the referendum,

D. having regard to the special historical responsibility which certain EU Member States have in this region and the importance of peace between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front in the interests of the stability of the Maghreb region,

E. whereas the EU must give firm support to the revived peace plan and strive to ensure that the resumed process develops as scheduled, in a free and democratic manner,

F. whereas the Council should draw up a common position reaffirming Europe's determination that the referendum should be held and creating a framework for the EU to participate as fully as possible in meeting the economic and human needs deriving from the peace plan,

G. expressing its willingness to send, at the appropriate moment, an observer delegation to the referendum on self-determination in Western Sahara,

1. Recommends that the Council:

a) take note of the European Parliament's concern that the European Union should firmly support the full application of the peace plan, the agreements which have revived it and the holding of the planned referendum, the preparations for which should ensure conditions of equal opportunity for both sides and security for voters;

b) draw up a common position reaffirming the European Union's full support for the peace plan and all its intermediary stages (identification of voters, quartering of troops, exchange of prisoners, release of political detainees and 'disappeared persons', repatriation of refugees, organization of the electoral campaign, etc.), as well as playing an active part in the holding of a free and transparent referendum on self-determination on the scheduled date, contributing to ensuring that both sides observe their undertakings before and during the voting and respect the outcome and, at all events, guaranteeing the fundamental rights of persons irrespective of the referendum result;

c) in any case, provide and facilitate the necessary humanitarian aid, both through the United Nations and its specialized agencies (particularly the UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations so as to assist with the proper resettlement of the Saharan people in the disputed zone and, in general, organize EU participation in the tasks of MINURSO by providing funds, observers and, if necessary, staff and equipment;

d) draw up a programme for future long-term cooperation with a view to full and sustainable development of Western Sahara.

2. Instructs its President to forward this recommendation to the Council and, for information, to the Commission and the governments of the Member States.