A4-0149/95

Resolution on anti-personnel landmines: a murderous impediment to development

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolution of 17 December 1992 on the injuries and loss of life caused by mines ((OJ C 21, 25.1.1993, p. 161.)),

- having regard to the resolution of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly of 2 February 1995 on mines ((ACP-EU 1419/95/fin.)),

- having regard to the resolution of the ACP-EU Assembly of 2 February 1995 on land mines in Angola ((ACP-EU 1463/95/fin.)),

- having regard to the resolution on the 1980 UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and the problems posed by the proliferation of anti- personnel mines in Africa adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organisation of African Unity on 23 June 1995,

- having regard to its resolution of 29 June 1995 on landmines and blinding laser weapons ((Part II, Item 8(a) of these Minutes.)),

- having regard to the outcome of the Hearing organised by the Committee on Development and Cooperation and the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the subject of anti-personnel mines (March 21-22, 1995),

- having regard to Rule 148 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A4-0149/95),

A. whereas in December 1992 it called upon the Member States to ratify the UN Convention on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects, and whereas the Convention (including protocol 2 on landmines) is to be the subject of a Revision Conference in the autumn of 1995,

B. whereas on 12 May 1995 the Council adopted a joint action on anti-personnel mines with a view to implementing a joint moratorium on exports of such mines, preparing for the revision conference on the 1980 Convention referred to above and stepping up the Union's contribution to the international mine clearance effort,

C. whereas there are between 80 and 110 million mines laid in some 65 countries of the world, many of which are poor and developing,

D. whereas mines are a legitimate concern to those who have the responsibility for formulating or implementing development policy,

E. whereas anti-personnel mines constitute a serious constraint on the socio- economic development of many of the world's poorest countries and that this problem needs to be urgently addressed; whereas socio-economic difficulties are often one of the causes of a resumption of fighting and should therefore be given special attention,

F. whereas more mines are currently being laid than cleared,

G. whereas the presence of large numbers of mines in vast areas of the developing world affects agricultural production, the environment, energy supply, communications and education and places an enormous strain on health care facilities,

H. whereas the principal victim of mines is the civilian population; whereas, given that many mines can remain active for decades, casualties persist for many years after hostilities have ended,

I. whereas this can also prevent refugees returning home,

J. noting that some 175 nations have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and that the use of anti-personnel mines violates many of the core provisions of that Convention,

K. having regard to the efforts which have already been made by specialised non-governmental organisations and international agencies as well as local communities in order to overcome individual and collective suffering caused by anti-personnel mines; having regard to the commendable commitment shown by NGOs and international aid organizations which, over recent years, have consistently brought to the notice of world opinion the devastating effects of mines and have promoted campaigns to alert national and international political bodies to this issue,

L. whereas the international community has a duty to take all possible steps to alleviate the difficulties resulting from the existence of anti-personnel mines,

M. whereas it is economic madness for European companies to continue to produce and sell anti-personnel landmines which cost as little as USD 5 to buy but as much as USD 1000 to clear; whereas the taxpayer tends to cover the cost of clearance,

1. Calls on Member States to draw up and adopt without delay national legislation placing an outright ban on the production, stockpiling, transfer, sale, import, export and use of anti-personnel landmines and/or their component parts and blinding weapons; calls for the destruction of existing stockpiles wherever they may be held, and whatever their type or particular technical characteristic;

2. Calls also on the Member States to suspend technological research aimed at manufacturing and/or modernizing landmines and to see to the conversion of mine-manufacturing industries;

3. Welcomes the adoption by the Council on 10 May 1995 of a joint action on anti-personnel mines, but regrets that the proposed moratorium is limited to 'non-detectable' and 'non-self-actuating' mines, does not cover production and storage, and makes a contribution of only ECU 3 million to international mine clearance;

4. Reiterates that, as long as such mines exist, the international community and the European Union must continue to play a role in prevention, information, mine clearance and aid towards the rehabilitation of victims; calls therefore on the Council and the Commission to do more to prevent the dissemination of mines and to concentrate more resources on rehabilitation programmes in the areas affected;

5. Urges the Council to instigate a joint action pursuant to Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union, involving a commitment to ban the production and marketing of anti-personnel mines throughout Community territory;

6. Welcomes the Union's decision to step up its contribution to the international mine clearance effort by making ECU 3 million available to the UN voluntary mine clearance fund and establishing a stable framework for the financial and technical assistance which the Union provides for mine clearance operations and training in mine clearance;

7. Calls upon the European Union and its Member States to expand mine clearance programmes, to exert influence within the UN in order to expand programmes, and to consider a possible role for the Western European Union in clearance;

8. Requests that sufficient resources be channelled into research on producing safer and more cost effective techniques for mine detection and mine clearance, notably through the Joint Research Centre, and that such research funds not go to arms manufacturers;

9. Urges the Commission to establish, with its partners in rehabilitation and mine clearance projects, ways of improving the management and co-ordination of their work, notably through using and training, wherever possible, local experts and through thorough consultation with local community groups and organisations;

10. Calls for the creation of a distinct budget line for mine-clearing activities;

11. Proposes that additional resources be directed towards NGOs and local communities which are struggling to implement information campaigns, education programmes, care and maintenance projects, environmental projects and rural development projects in mine-infected areas;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States of the European Union, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Steering Committee of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the ACP-EU Joint Assembly and the Government of the United States of America.