P6_TA(2004)0013

Situation in Iraq

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Iraq

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions of 16 May 2002 on the situation in Iraq eleven years after the Gulf War [1] and 30 January 2003 on the situation in Iraq [2], its recommendation of 24 September 2003 on the situation in Iraq [3] and Decision 2004/155/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2003 on the mobilisation of the flexibility instrument in favour of the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq according to point 24 of the interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 [4],

- having regard to UN Security Council resolutions 1483 [5], 1500 [6], 1502 [7], 1511 [8] and 1546 [9],

- having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. noting the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1546 confirming the sovereign status of the Iraqi Interim Government from 30 June 2004, and supporting its implementation,

B. whereas, at its meeting of 17- 18 June 2004, the European Council reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a secure, stable, unified, prosperous and democratic Iraq, and noting the conclusion of the General Affairs Council of 13 September 2004,

C. welcoming the Commission communication (COM(2004) 0417) on the European Union and Iraq and the framework for engagement proposed therein,

D. whereas the political and security situation in Iraq remains unstable, causing numerous deaths and injuries among Europeans, the Iraqi people and international military personnel,

1. Strongly condemns all indiscriminate violence and in particular all the terrorist attacks against civilians, religious minorities, police forces and soldiers of the multinational force, the taking of hostages, including journalists and NGO personnel, and the atrocious murders which have been committed and remain unpunished; affirms that every effort must be made to stop such attempts to weaken, through the use of violence, the determination of the Iraqi Government and the international community to proceed with the democratic process;

2. Particularly condemns in the strongest terms the abduction of French journalists Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, as well as Italian aid workers Simona Torretta and Simona Pari and of a British citizen, and demands their immediate unconditional release, as well as that of all other hostages, whatever their national origin; welcomes the many expressions of solidarity by Iraqi citizens and in the Islamic world with the hostages; calls on the Iraqi authorities and all the official bodies concerned to make every effort to secure the release of the hostages and not to create any obstacles to this endeavour; demands that everything be done to repatriate the mortal remains of the Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni;

3. Urges the Presidency of the Council, the High Representative for CFSP and the Commission to support initiatives to this end by the Member States concerned;

4. Calls on the new Iraqi government authorities and the religious communities in the country, in particular all the religious authorities, to condemn strongly, clearly and unequivocally every form of terrorism;

5. Reaffirms the determination of the European Union to assist the transformation of Iraq and its reintegration into the international community as a sovereign, independent and democratic partner country; strongly supports the medium-term strategy issued by the Commission in line with these principles;

6. Demands that the elections to the transitional National Assembly, which are scheduled to be held by January 2005 and are considered a major step towards the establishment of a democratic Iraq, be free and fair and with the full participation of women;

7. Supports the Commission proposal to allocate a further EUR 200 million EU contribution towards Iraq's reconstruction in 2005, and urges the Council to use the flexibility instrument to implement that commitment without reducing expenditure in other areas of EU external action; insists that the reconstruction process should be transparent in all its aspects, in particular political, economic and financial;

8. Recommends that its Foreign Affairs Committee prepare a comprehensive report on the situation in Iraq, taking into account the consequences of the war and all problems related to the rehabilitation, reconstruction and stabilisation of that country;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the High Representative for CFSP, the Commission, the Parliaments of the Member States, the Iraqi Interim Government, the Iraqi Interim Parliament, the UN Secretary General and the UN Security Council.

[1] OJ C 180 E, 31.7.2003, p. 499.

[2] OJ C 39 E, 13.2.2004, p. 67.

[3] OJ C 77 E, 26.3.2004, p. 226.

[4] OJ L 54, 23.2.2004, p. 1.

[5] UNSCR 1483 of 22 May 2003 on the "Authority" in Iraq after the war and the competence of the UN Special Representative.

[6] UNSCR 1500 of 14 August 2003 on the establishment of the representative Governing Council of Iraq and the establishment of the United Nations Assistance Mission.

[7] UNSCR 1502 of 26 August 2003 calling for protection of UN and humanitarian personnel.

[8] UNSCR 1511 of 16 October 2003.

[9] UNSCR 1546 of 8 June 2004.

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