B4-0330, 0342, 0370, 0381, 0400 and 0405/96

Resolution on anti-personnel landmines and the Vienna International Conference on the review of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolutions of 29 June 1995 on landmines and blinding laser weapons ((OJ C 183, 17.7.1995, p. 44.)) and on anti-personnel mines: a murderous impediment to development ((OJ C 183, 17.7.1995, p. 47.)), and its resolution of 16 November 1995 on the failure of the international conference on anti-personnel mines and laser weapons ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 10(a).)),

- having regard to the decision of the Council of 12 May 1995 on a joint action pursuant to Article J.3 of the Treaty of European Union on anti-personnel mines ((OJ L 115, 22.5.1995, p. 1.)),

- having regard to the common position of the Council of 18 September 1995 pursuant to Article J.2 of the Treaty on European Union on blinding lasers ((OJ L 227, 22.9.1995, p. 3.)),

A. whereas negotiations to revise the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) will be resumed for the last time in April 1996,

B. whereas previous rounds of negotiations, in September/October 1995 and in January 1996, made little progress in reaching agreement on significant measures to further restrict the production and use of landmines,

C. whereas a new Protocol IV to the CCW was adopted by the Review Conference in October 1995 prohibiting the use and transfer of blinding laser weapons,

D. whereas there is vast public support throughout the European Union for a total ban on anti-personnel mines (APMs),

E. whereas action to move towards and finally achieve such a ban should be sought as far as possible at international level, and specifically through revising the CCW,

F. whereas the EU should now give a strong lead to enable significant progress to be made in the final session of the Review Conference in April 1996,

G. whereas Belgium has already decreed a total ban on the production, transfer and use of APMs,

H. whereas all Member States have announced bans or moratoria on APM exports,

I. whereas the EU as a whole should take action itself to ban the production, stockpiling, transfer and use of APMs,

1. Calls on the Council to adopt before the final session of the CCW Review Conference in April 1996 a new joint action on landmines and blinding laser weapons to include at least the following provisions:

(a) the following to be inserted in the CCW itself:

- provision for regular automatic review conferences,

- extension of scope to apply in all circumstances,

(b) the following to be inserted in Protocol II on Landmines:

- a statement that its articles are aimed at the complete elimination of APMs as soon as feasible,

- verification both of suspected use violations and of the manufacture according to technical specifications,

- all anti-handling devices to be banned,

- anti-tank mines to be detectable,

- a ban on advertising APMs,

(c) EU Member States to sign and ratify Protocol IV on blinding laser weapons as soon as possible,

(d) EU Member States to ban APMs whatever the outcome of the Review Conference, and ensure that EU companies operating outside EU territory also respect this ban,

(e) EU Member States to ban the development and production of blinding laser weapons,

(f) EU Member States to proceed to the destruction of the existing stocks of APMs and blinding laser weapons;

2. Calls on the Member States to decide unilaterally, like Belgium, to ban all anti-personnel landmines;

3. Calls once again on the Member States and the European Union to increase their financial contribution to the international mine clearance and victim support effort;

4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the chairman of the Vienna International Conference on the review of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.