ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
B4-1008/96

Resolution on the revision of ILO Convention 109 concerning working time for seafarers

The European Parliament,

- having regard to ILO Convention 109,

- having regard to Council Directive 93/104/EEC concerning certain aspects of the organization of working time (( OJ L 307, 13.12.1993, p. 18.)),

- having regard to the Commission's Medium Term Social Action Programme 1995-97 (( Social Europe 1/95.)),

- having regard to Council Directive 95/21/EC concerning the enforcement, in respect of shipping using Community ports and sailing in the waters under the jurisdiction of the Member States, of international standards for ship safety, pollution prevention and shipboard living and working conditions (port state control) (( OJ L 157, 7.7.1995, p. 1.)),

A. whereas according to the Commission 80% of all accidents at sea are caused by human error; whereas fatigue and overwork are fundamental factors contributing to human error,

B. whereas Transport Joint Committees have for the air, maritime and rail sectors agreed to include non-mobile staff within the scope of Directive 93/104/EC mentioned above,

C. whereas the adoption and ratification of a revised ILO Convention 109 would be a first step to extending Directive 93/104/EC to the maritime sector; whereas in December 1994 governments, employers and unions concluded a preparatory agreement on a revision of Convention 109,

D. whereas it is essential, for the safety of shipping and the living and working conditions of seafarers, that all ships, regardless of flag and the nationality of the crew, should be subject to the same stringent legislation on working time,

1. Calls on the Member States to adopt and ratify a revised ILO Convention 109;

2. Asks the Commission and Member States to ensure the implementation of a revised Convention 109 through port state control;

3. Considers the implementation of the revised Convention 109 as a first step to ensuring that the maritime sector is eventually covered by the provisions of Directive 93/104/EC;

4. Considers that there is an important link between on the one hand the quality of working conditions and professional training and on the other maritime safety and environmental protection;

5. Asks the Commission to propose urgent measures to stop the 'flagging out¨ of the European fleet, a phenomenon which has an important impact on unemployment, working conditions, maritime safety and environmental protection;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments of the Member States.
B4-0252/97

Resolution on the release of Leyla Zana

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on human rights violations in Turkey,

A. deploring the fact that Leyla Zana, winner of the 1995 European Parliament Sakharov Prize, is being kept in prison for championing democracy and recognition of the rights of the Kurdish people by peaceful means,

1. Demands the immediate release of Leyla Zana, winner of the 1995 European Parliament Sakharov Prize;

2. Calls for the release of all other political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Turkey;

3. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States and the Turkish Government.
B4-0470, 0508, 0529, 0534, 0546, 0554 and 0561/97

Resolution on the situation in Sierra Leone

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the statement by the Council Presidency of 28 May 1997,

A. whereas civil war has been ravaging Sierra Leone since 1991 and three coups have been carried out there since 1992,

B. whereas the civil war has claimed thousands of victims and forced roughly half the country's population into exile,

C. having regard to the signing in Abidjan in November 1996 of a peace agreement which sought to end the civil war,

D. whereas a process of democratization, which had begun with the organization of multi-party elections in March 1996, was underway,

E. particularly concerned at the consequences of the most recent coup of 25 May 1997 by elements of the Sierra Leonean army, who deposed President Kabbah and forced him to flee to Guinea, thus interrupting the process of democratization and dashing hopes of putting an end to the civil war,

F. deeply concerned at the military intervention in Sierra Leone by Nigerian troops, claiming to act under the banner of the West African intervention force, which is merely exacerbating the situation,

G. whereas action by the European Union has hitherto been confined to the issue of the abovementioned statement by the Council Presidency of 28 May 1997,

1. Condemns the coup of 25 May 1997 and calls for the immediate restoration of constitutional order;

2. Supports the diplomatic initiative launched by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) for the peaceful restoration of constitutional order in Sierra Leone and calls for international diplomatic efforts to be stepped up;

3. Denounces the military intervention by Nigeria, which is abusing Ecomog's name by exploiting the situation with a view to restoring its international credibility;

4. Condemns the acts of violence perpetrated against the Sierra Leonean population and expatriates;

5. Calls for the European Union to intervene firmly, making use of the instruments at its disposal under the Lomé Convention;

6. Expresses the hope that the passivity which the European Union has once again demonstrated in relation to this episode will serve to encourage the establishment of an effective CFSP in the context of the current review of the Treaties;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of Sierra Leone and Nigeria, the Economic Community of West African States, the OAU and UN Secretaries-General and the Co- Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly.
B4-0377, 0378, 0380, 0383, 0390, 0392 and 0400/97

Resolution on the WTO Panel on bananas

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the GATT Agreement and its assent given on 14 December 1994 to the dispute settlement procedures in the framework of the WTO ((OJ C 18, 23.1.1995, p. 61.)),

- having regard to the successful conflict settlement in earlier cases,

1. Is concerned about the problematic situation of smaller producers in the traditional banana- supplying countries and for similar suppliers within the EU;

2. Finds the opinion delivered by the WTO Panel unacceptable and therefore urges the Commission to go through the full appeal procedure against those points not covered by clear GATT rules;

3. Is deeply concerned about the impact that this opinion has already caused among the banana producers in the Community and the traditional exporters of bananas among the ACP;

4. Urges the Commission to present a clear strategy for the future banana market which enables EU obligations towards its ACP partners and EU producers to be met;

5. Is in favour of retaining and improving the Community banana regime in order to protect the interests of producers in the ACP states, in accordance with the undertakings entered into under the Lomé Convention, and those of Community producers;

6. Stresses, however, that there is a need on the part of those concerned with the future of the regime to begin to devise proposals for an alternative regime which fulfils the objectives of sustainable banana production in accordance with the representative organizations of small producers and workers directly affected by the regime,

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the governments of the ACP countries and the EU Member States.
B4-0785/97

Resolution on human rights in Ethiopia

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolution of 18 July 1996 on human rights in Ethiopia ((OJ C 261, 9.9.1996, p. 166.)),

A. whereas respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law constitute essential elements of the revised Lomé IV Convention and whereas the Ethiopian constitution also includes respect for human rights,

B. having regard to the continuing process of democratic and institutional change in Ethiopia,

C. concerned by the repression of civil society associations which recently forced into exile leaders like Mr Kefale Mamo and Mr Mulugeta Lule (president and vice-president respectively of the Ethiopian Free Press Journalist Association), Mr Gemorav Kassa (General Secretary of the Ethiopian Teachers Association), and Mr Dawi Ibrahim (president of the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions),

D. deeply concerned by the killing on 11 June 1997 of Assefa Maru, an executive board member of both the Ethiopian Teachers Association and of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council,

1. Condemns the killing of Assefa Maru;

2. Condemns all human rights violations committed by the government and military forces;

3. Calls on the Ethiopian authorities to guarantee the fundamental rights of all Ethiopian citizens and to put an end to politically motivated persecutions and to abuses such as extrajudicial disappearances, torture, detention, rapes and arrests, in accordance with the Ethiopian constitution;

4. Calls on the Ethiopian authorities fully to respect freedom of the press, independence of unions and the right of association of citizens;

5. Urges the Ethiopian Government to release all prisoners of conscience and to provide corrective procedures to the judiciary system whereby people can be charged and tried in a fair way;

6. Calls on the Council, the Commission and the Member States to monitor closely human rights in Ethiopia and use all means to improve the situation;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government of Ethiopia, the Secretary- General of the United Nations and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
B4-0059, 0077 and 0100/98

Resolution on the situation in the Republic of Ingushetia

The European Parliament

- having regard to its resolutions and debates on the situation in the northern Caucasus, and in particular Chechnya and neighbouring Ingushetia,

A. having regard to the ongoing tensions generated by the fighting in North Ossetia's Prigorodny district in November 1992, whence thousands of persons of Ingush nationality fled to Ingushetia,

B. alarmed by reports on the serious situation of the people of Ingush nationality in the Prigorodny district of North Ossetia, but noting the agreement of the three parties (Ingushetia, North Ossetia and the Russian Federation) to allow refugees to return to the Prigorodny and Vladikavkaz districts,

C. whereas it is necessary to prevent serious suffering, in particular of women and children, as a result of the inadequate supply of goods and food caused by the difficult economical situation and winter,

D. noting that the Ingush internal displaced persons do not yet have any real possibility of returning to the places where they formerly lived in the Prigorodny district of North Ossetia, since the agreement of 4 September 1997 and the programme of 15 October 1997 concerning the Ossetian-Ingush conflict, agreed between the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania and the Republic of Ingushetia are not yet being applied,

1. Calls on the Russian State Duma to take appropriate measures to facilitate assistance to areas of return in Prigorodny district, in order to enable the civilian Ingush population of the district to resume their normal lives in security and peace and have access to economic activities;

2. Urges all the authorities involved to respect and apply the agreements concerning the return of Ingush refugees to the Prigorodny district;

3. Appeals to the UN, the OSCE, and other international organizations to use all their influence and means to contribute actively to the normalization process in the northern Caucasus without further delay;

4. Calls on the Council and Commission to consider financing humanitarian activities, through ECHO, for implementation by international organizations in areas of return in the Prigorodny and Vladikavkaz districts;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Russian State Duma, the President of the Russian Federation, the governments of Ingushetia and North Ossetia, the UN Secretary-General and the OSCE Secretary-General.
A4-0021/98

Resolution on Special Report No 5/97 of the Court of Auditors on management of the Community cereals trade involving export refunds, special import arrangements and regional aid schemes together with the Commission's replies (C4-0351/97)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Special Report No 5/97 of the Court of Auditors (C4-0351/97) ((OJ C 159, 26.5.1997, p. 1.)),

- having regard to Article 188c(4), second subparagraph, of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control and the opinion of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A4-0021/98),

A. whereas export refunds on cereals between 1991 and 1994 amounted to ECU 11 043 million; whereas the scale of appropriations thus paid to the various operators in the Member States has a real impact on the activities of the recipients of such payments and on the economic activity of the Member States,

B. whereas in these circumstances the Commission, in collaboration with the Member States, should endeavour to take the measures needed to remedy the loopholes and shortcomings detected in Special Report No 5/97 of the Court of Auditors at the earliest opportunity,

1. Deplores the fact that the flat-rate processing coefficients have remained unchanged for 24 years, which has entailed substantial additional costs for the budget of the European Union;

2. Calls on the Commission to:

- recover amounts paid unduly owing to the absence of checks on the origin of exported malt;

- clarify the rules regarding the eligibility of compound feedingstuffs for refund payments;

3. Calls on the Commission, as a matter of priority, to consolidate its Regulation (EEC) No 3665/87 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of export refunds on agricultural products ((OJ L 351, 14.12.1987, p. 1.)) in order to harmonize and improve the quality of physical checks on exported cereals;

4. Calls on the Commission to implement, in collaboration with the Member States, a genuine policy for coordinating checks on multinational undertakings by the relevant national authorities and to inform Parliament of the results achieved;

5. Calls, in agreement with the comments made by the Court of Auditors, for the supply of maize to Portugal from third countries to be organized so as not to disrupt Community production and not to entail additional costs for the budget of the European Union;

6. Considers that a reform of the POSEIMA scheme based on the observations of the Court of Auditors is necessary and should take into account inter-island distribution needs, in particular;

7. Calls on the Commission, pending the new interinstitutional negotiations on commitology, to comply fully with the agreement of September 1996 between the Commission and Parliament on this matter;

8. Asks the Commission to forward a report on the consequences drawn from the Court's findings under the relevant clearance of accounts procedures, in time to be included in Parliament's discharge decisions on the clearance of accounts;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the Court of Auditors.
B4-0424, 0426, 0427, 0428 and 0429/98

Resolution on the abolition of duty-free sales

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Council decision taken in 1991 to abolish duty- and tax-free sales for travellers within the EU with effect from 1 July 1999,

1. Notes that:

a) there have been several studies published on the social and economic impact of the abolition of duty-free sales, but that unfortunately none of these studies has been carried out by independent assessors;

b) there is considerable concern and apprehension about the consequences of abolition on jobs, regions and transport sectors, especially in peripheral regions and in the sectors of ferry services and regional airports;

c) in the plenary debate in the European Parliament on VAT of 20 November 1990, Mrs Scrivener, speaking on behalf of the Commission, committed the Commission to undertaking a study in respect of the abolition of duty-free sales in the Community;

d) the Transport Council of 17 March 1998 requested the Commission to undertake such a study;

2. Calls on the Commission:

a) to carry out and publish this independent study into the social, economic, regional and revenue consequences of the abolition of duty- and tax-free sales in the EU as a matter of absolute urgency and no later than 30 September 1998 to ensure that a clearer picture of the situation is available;

b) to include aspects relating to employment;

3. Takes the view that specific attention must be paid to the economic problems which would arise on a number of sea crossings if duty-free sales were abolished on board the vessels concerned and that appropriate measures must be taken with a view to guaranteeing the operating balance on those crossings;

4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Member States.
B4-0600, 0618, 0622, 0632, 0655 and 0667/98

Resolution on the death sentences passed in Equatorial Guinea

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the human rights situation in Equatorial Guinea,

- having regard to its previous resolutions supporting the abolition of the death penalty and recalling its repeated condemnation of the possibility of people losing their lives by virtue of a court decision,

A. dismayed at the verdict in the summary trial held in Equatorial Guinea which includes death sentences against 15 persons and a number of prison sentences ranging from 6 to 26 years,

B. whereas the judicial proceedings against 117 persons of the Bubi ethnic minority accused of terrorism, secession and treason were not accompanied by the minimum guarantees which might be demanded from a state governed by the rule of law, as revealed by statements made by defence lawyers and information published in the free media,

C. condemning the harassment of the Western press by the authorities of Equatorial Guinea and the expulsion of the journalists following the proceedings,

D. regretting that Equatorial Guinea has made no progress towards democracy, disregarding its own international commitments and in particular those linking it to the European Union,

E. recalling that the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are fundamental principles governing the European Union's external action,

1. Rejects the death sentences passed against 15 of the accused and calls on the country's authorities immediately to commute them to custodial sentences and to stage an impartial retrial of the 117 Bubi militants in the presence of international observers;

2. Urges the Government of Equatorial Guinea to embark without delay on the steps necessary to establish the rule of law, democratic freedoms, respect for human rights and for minority rights;

3. Calls on the Commission to reconsider cooperation links with Equatorial Guinea until the authorities there have provided convincing proof of their resolve to make progress towards democracy;

4. Calls on the Commission and Council to apply the democratic conditionality clause in all the European Union 's relations with Equatorial Guinea, with the exception of humanitarian aid;

5. Calls on the Government of Equatorial Guinea to ensure that the use of torture is stopped and to ratify the United Nations Convention against torture as soon as possible;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments of the Member States and the Government of Equatorial Guinea.

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B4-0899, 0914, 0933 and 0944/98

Resolution on the human rights situation in Malaysia

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolution of 20 November 1997 on detentions without trial in Malaysia ((OJ C 371, 8.12.1997, p. 212.)),

- having regard to its previous resolutions on cooperation with the countries of South-East Asia and on the financial and economic crisis in Asia,

A. whereas Malaysia has recently been rocked by anti-government protests demanding political reforms; whereas several dozens of the protesters have been detained and beaten by the police,

B. whereas on 2 September 1998 Anwar Ibrahim was sacked as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and subsequently arrested on a charge of "unnatural sex acts¨ and 'corruption¨,

C. expressing its concern about the continued imprisonment of Anwar Ibrahim and eleven of his allies under the Internal Security Act in Malaysia,

D. furthermore expressing its deep concern about the reported ill-treatment of Anwar Ibrahim and other prisoners of conscience during their stay in prison,

E. noting that many others, including Liam Guan Eng, opposition member of the Malaysian Parliament, have been imprisoned because of their political activities,

F. noting that under the Internal Security Act people can be detained without warrant, for an investigation period of up to 60 days, if they are suspected of threatening the national security or economic life of Malaysia; noting furthermore that the Minister of Home Affairs may subsequently, and without reference to the courts, issue a detention order of up to two years, renewable indefinitely,

G. whereas homosexual acts between consenting adults are punishable under the Malaysian penal code by up to 20 years¨ imprisonment and whipping,

H. whereas freedom of expression is curbed in different ways in Malaysia and government critics, journalists and NGO workers are vulnerable to prosecution and imprisonment,

1. Calls on the Government of Malaysia to release immediately Anwar Ibrahim and all other prisoners of conscience;

2. Calls on the Government of Malaysia to allow an independent international investigation into the reports of ill-treatment of prisoners of conscience detained in Malaysia;

3. Calls on the Government of Malaysia to amend the Internal Security Act so that it no longer allows those who peacefully express religious or political beliefs to be arrested and imprisoned; furthermore calls for the Internal Security Act to be amended so that those suspected of threatening national security have the opportunity to defend themselves before a court of law, and are not held incommunicado at unknown locations;

4. Calls on the Malaysian Government to review the penal code so as to stop discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation;

5. Urges the Commission and the Council to make further cooperation between the European Union and Malaysia dependent on Malaysia¨s willingness to respect basic human rights within its borders;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the Government and Parliament of Malaysia.

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