ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
A4-0039/96

Resolution on the communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the integrated management of coastal zones (COM(95)0511 - C4-0593/95)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the communication of the Commission (COM(95)0511 - C4-0593/95),

- having regard to its opinion of 17 November 1992 ((OJ C 337, 21.12.1992, p. 34.)) on the proposal of the Commission to the Council for a resolution on a Community Programme of Policy and Action in the field of the Environment and Sustainable Development,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0039/96),

A. whereas the steady deterioration of European coastal zones means that urgent measures must be taken to save what can still be saved,

B. whereas the protection of coastal zones has been declared a priority for Community action, notably in the fifth Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development ((OJ C 138, 17.5.1993, p. 1.)),

C. whereas the Council, in its resolutions of 25 February 1992 ((OJ C 59, 6.3.1992, p. 1.)) and 6 May 1994 ((OJ C 135, 18.5.1994, p. 2.)), called on the Commission to draw up a Community strategy for the integrated management of coastal zones,

D. whereas on 18 December 1995 the Council, while approving the communication, called on the Commission to pursue its initiatives and actions to attain the objectives provided for in paragraph 1, i.e. the drawing up of a Community strategy, at the earliest opportunity,

E. whereas the fifth Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development specifically provides, in item 5.6, for the drawing-up of a Community strategy, and even establishes a timetable and the means for attaining this objective,

F. whereas the Commission in its communication has itself recognized that, unless appropriate measures are taken, European coastal zones will continue seriously to deteriorate,

1. Welcomes the Commission's efforts at coordination aimed at bringing into play existing Community instruments;

2. Regrets the Commission's decision to restrict itself to a non-binding demonstration programme;

3. Calls on the Commission to draw up at the earliest opportunity a proposal aimed at establishing a Community strategy for the integrated management of coastal zones;

4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the Member States.
B4-0078 and 0088/96

Resolution on Saudi Arabia

The European Parliament,

A. deeply disturbed at the serious, widespread and increasing violation of basic human rights in Saudi Arabia, including the detention and ill- treatment of political prisoners, and at the growing number of public executions and the range of crimes which carry the death penalty, as reported by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch,

B. worried by the reported increases of judicially ordered floggings and amputations,

C. seriously concerned at the total absence of fundamental freedoms and democratic rights in Saudi Arabia and the limitations on the rights of women and foreign workers,

D. aware of the situation of complete media censorship,

E. believing in the right of Saudi citizens living abroad to advocate reforms peacefully, though by no means endorsing the particular viewpoint upheld by Mohammed A.S. al-Mas'ari,

F. recognizing the dangers to which exiles may be subject if denied political asylum,

G. deeply aware of the importance of Saudi Arabia as a source of oil and a trading partner for European Union Member States and others anxious to encourage good relations with the Saudi people, but rejecting the idea that concern with human rights should be disregarded or suppressed to safeguard economic interests,

The European Parliament,

1. Deplores proposals to deport the Saudi dissident Mohammed A.S. al-Mas'ari from the United Kingdom or to isolate him in a distant land, particularly in view of the fact that he was imprisoned and tortured for forming the Committee for the Defence of Legitimate Rights before his escape from his native land; calls upon the UK not to deport him;

2. Calls for the right of asylum for genuine political dissidents to be fully upheld within the European Union as a whole;

3. Calls upon the Saudi Arabian Government to take measures urgently towards the general improvement of the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia;

4. Urges the Council and the Commission to stress this issue in their political contacts with the Saudi Arabian Government and in the context of the Gulf Cooperation Council;

5. Calls upon all Member States to act in unison to prevent some Member States from benefiting in the event of sanctions being imposed on others for upholding human rights;

6. Views with deep concern the extent to which some states are dependent on arms exports to countries with poor human rights records and urges diversification and observance of the guidelines proposed in its resolutions of 24 March 1994 on disarmament, arms export controls and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction ((OJ C 114, 25.4.1994, p. 56.)) and 19 January 1995 on the need for European controls on the export or transfer of arms ((OJ C 43, 20.2.1995, p. 89.));

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States and the Government of Saudi Arabia.
B4-0218/96

Resolution on the violent storms in France

The European Parliament,

A. having regard to the violence of the storms that raged from 7 to 9 February 1996 on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts with winds of up to 110 m.p.h.,

B. whereas these storms killed four people and injured several others and caused extensive damage, in particular to infrastructures and public and private buildings,

The European Parliament,

1. Extends its sincere condolences to the victims' families and expresses its solidarity with those who have suffered damage;

2. Draws the Commission's attention to the extent of the damage and asks it to make an allocation of emergency aid to victims as a token of Community solidarity;

3. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the French Government.
B4-0338, 0359, 0369, 0372 and 0396/96

Resolution on press freedom in Algeria

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Algeria,

A. whereas the number of attacks in Algeria, especially on journalists, has increased,

B. strongly condemning all those attacks and especially the one on the Maison de la Presse in which three journalists lost their lives,

C. whereas the freedom of the press, which is already subject to considerable government censorship, is the designated target of terrorists who reject any notion of democracy for Algeria,

D. having regard to the Algerian Government's decision of 4 March 1996 to ban publication of the weekly newspaper 'La Nation', the day before publication of a feature on human rights violations by the Algerian security forces,

E. whereas a true democracy must fundamentally seek to promote and defend the rule of law, pluralism and freedom of expression, and a campaign against terrorism can never justify arbitrary restrictions on the exercise of those fundamental rights,

F. whereas there can be no real democracy without press freedom,

1. Strongly condemns all attacks on Algerian journalists;

2. Condemns equally strongly the confiscation and ban on publication of the weekly newspaper 'La Nation';

3. Calls on the Council and the Commission to lend particular support to projects designed to ensure free speech; those projects could take the form of assistance for newspapers and radio or television programmes which would be printed or recorded in the Union but published and broadcast in Algeria, and calls on the Commission to support initiatives by the European media to sponsor their Algerian counterparts, such as the twinning of 'Le Monde Diplomatique' and 'La Nation';

4. Congratulates the Algerian authorities on their decision to rebuild the 'Maison de la Presse' as rapidly as possible, but calls on them to finalize without delay a long-term strategy for stopping the attacks on journalists in particular and to provide them with better working conditions and increased freedom of expression;

5. Urges the major international organizations, and UNESCO in particular, together with the international press agencies, to organize a conference on the freedom of the press in Algeria, and on any initiatives which the international community could encourage or take in this area;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Algerian Government and the Director-General of UNESCO.
B4-0607, 0625, 0637, 0640 and 0651/96

Resolution on freedom of opinion in Albania and Belarus

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on freedom of the press and the right of access to the media during election campaigns,

A. disturbed at the attacks on freedom of opinion and expression in several countries of Central and Eastern Europe,

B. whereas this is a fundamental human right and any member of the Council of Europe and/or candidate for membership of the European Union should guarantee to all its citizens complete freedom of expression and opinion,

C. disturbed in particular at the situation in Belarus where the freedom of the press is seriously threatened,

D. having regard to the situation in Albania on the eve of the general elections when access to the media should be guaranteed to all,

1. Is concerned at the actions of intimidation against the media in Belarus, characterised by increased government control and censorship of both independent and state media and stresses in this respect the actions against the independent newspapers such as the Beloruskaya delovaya gazeta, Imya and Narodnaya volya, where attempts are being made to prevent them being printed by state-owned publishing houses;

2. Calls on the Commission and the Council to inform the Belarusian authorities of their deep concern at the violent intervention by OMON, the Belarusian special militia forces at the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster on 26 April 1996 when some 200 people were arrested, including several opposition leaders;

3. Recalls that respect for the basic democratic principles in Belarus is a precondition for the EU-Belarus Partnership and Cooperation Agreement as well as the Interim Agreement;

4. Calls for support to be given to the efforts of the democratic community in Belarus to secure the immediate release of all prisoners of conscience;

5. Acknowledges the steps made by Albania towards democracy and stresses the need to strengthen them and to continue in this direction; considers that the general elections on 26 May 1996 are extremely important for the smooth development of the process of democratization;

6. Calls, therefore, on the President and the government of Albania to guarantee that the elections for the parliament will be free and fair; calls furthermore for guarantees that all parties and candidates will be given equal access to the media during the election campaign;

7. Welcomes the fact that, in the framework of the PHARE democracy programme, the Commission gives full support to the development and establishment of democratic institutions in Albania;

8. Expresses its resolve to ensure that the process of further cooperation between the Eastern and Central European countries and the European Union must be directly linked to the full respect for democracy and constitutional principles;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the President, Government and Parliament of Albania and the President, Government and Parliament of Belarus.
B4-1014, 1025 and 1032/96

Resolution on the floods in the region of Maresme (Barcelona) and the Region of Valencia

The European Parliament,

A. concerned at the recent floods which occurred in the districts of Cabrils, Cabrera, Vilassar del Mar, Vilassar de Dalt, Premiá de Mar, Premiá de Dalt, El Masnou and Teiá, in the region of Maresme, which caused two deaths and 2000 million pesetas' worth of damage,

B. having regard also to the floods of 10 and 11 September 1996 in the Region of Valencia,

C. having regard in particular to the damage done by the torrential rains to crops and farms in the region,

The European Parliament,

1. Expresses its sympathy and solidarity with the victims and their families;

2. Calls on the Commission to draw up a recovery plan for the affected area of Maresme in cooperation with the competent authorities, allocating funds as a priority for channelling watercourses and for the building of infrastructures, housing and farms;

3. Calls for the drawing up of a similar plan, together with the regional authorities, for the affected areas of the Region of Valencia;

4. Points out the need, in view of the recurrence of such floods in the Mediterranean basin, for a budget line for the prevention and remedying of their effects;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Generalitat Valenciana and the Spanish Government.
B4-1072/96

Resolution on support for conservation of the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela in the face of the brutal destruction of and assault on the village of Pazos

The European Parliament,

A. having regard to the severe damage to and brutal assault on the human environment and the historical and cultural heritage caused by work on the stretch of the N.550 passing through Pazos (Padrón), Public Works project 33-LC-2350,

B. whereas this section is one of the most distinctive parts of the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela - Ruta Xacobea - designated the 'foremost European cultural itinerary' by the Council of Europe and 'world cultural heritage' by UNESCO, the destruction of which constitutes an act of barbarism,

C. whereas the project to widen the road, at the very heart of the village of Pazos, will cause irreparable damage to a significant and exceptional section of the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela, demolishing manor houses, Roman bridges, 55 exceptionally old stone houses, chapels, shrines, crucifixes, walls, granaries, fountains, washing places, wells and outstanding, centuries-old oak groves, apart from other damage - a veritable ravaging of the architectural heritage, the landscape and the environment,

D. having regard to the failure to comply with Law 3/1996 on the protection of the pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela (DOG, 23.5.96) and Law 8/1995 on the cultural heritage of Galicia, the Statute of Autonomy and the Spanish Constitution itself,

E. whereas the Galician regional government and other responsible authorities have failed to take action; whereas the transport department did not deliver a favourable report and whereas the Padrón Council's report rejecting the scheme has been ignored,

The European Parliament,

1. Insists on the immediate suspension of work on the N.550 at Pazos;

2. Demands the restitution of expropriated property, the reconstruction of demolished stone walls and full repair of the damage caused;

3. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission.
B4-1115, 1116, 1206, 1209 and 1211/96

Resolution on the crisis in the EU salmon market

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolutions of 15 December 1995 on the crisis in the salmon sector ((OJ C 17, 22.1.1996, p. 467.)) and 16 February 1996 on the crisis in the EU salmon market ((OJ C 65, 4.3.1996, p. 212.)),

- having regard to Chapter 4, Articles 112 - 114 of the EEA Agreement entitled 'Safeguard Measures¨, which was the legal basis used for the introduction of a 'Minimum Import Price¨ (MIP) on 15 December 1995,

A. whereas, due to an increase of 22% in Norwegian salmon exports to the Union over the last eight months and a consequent 21% reduction in the price of salmon on the Community market, the industry is again in crisis,

B. whereas the dumping of Norwegian salmon on the European market, which has been going on since 1989, has resulted in price instability in the EU salmon market, with a knock-on effect on other fish products, especially the white fish market, throughout the European Union,

C. whereas anti-dumping and anti-subsidy cases against Norway were opened by the Commission on 31 August 1996 at the request of the Association of Scottish Salmon Growers and this investigation will take a full nine months,

D. whereas the market price of salmon is now well below the level at which a minimum price was introduced in December 1995,

1. Regrets that the Fisheries Council of 14 October 1996 only covered the question of the crisis in the salmon market under ¨Any other business', and failed to reach any constructive agreement to achieve price stability in the EU salmon market;

2. Deplores Member States' failure to propose constructive measures, such as quantitative restriction measures;

3. Notes that the last quarter of the year is a particularly critical period in the salmon market, and that EU salmon producers are likely to incur substantial losses unless urgent action is taken;

4. Notes that salmon production and processing, especially in Scotland and Ireland, is a vital source of employment, particularly in many rural peripheral maritime areas where there are few alternative job opportunities; points out that price stability is essential for the future of the industry;

5. Calls on the Commission to take immediate action to safeguard the future of the salmon industry by reinstating minimum import prices for each specific presentation of salmon followed by quantitative restrictions if necessary;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Norwegian Government.
B4-1359, 1420 and 1434/96

Resolution on Romania

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and Romania,

- having regard to the conclusions of the meetings of the EU/Romania Joint Parliamentary Committee,

A. whereas representatives of the parties constituting the new majority in Romania as a result of the elections of 3 November 1996 have declared that absolute priority will be given to measures to improve the situation of children in Romania, including more efficient mechanisms to ensure their implementation,

B. whereas a large number of children in Romania are currently living below the poverty line; whereas an increasing number of children are forced to spend their lives on the street,

C. whereas in the framework of the PHARE programme, the European Union has already given specific support to the Romanian Government for the development of a Childhood Protection Programme in Romania,

D. whereas the relation of association and the future accession of Romania to the European Union also involves cooperation and partnership between the European Union and Romania in solving the difficulties that Romania has to overcome during the process of transition,

1. Stresses that, within the framework of a general pre-accession strategy for Romania, the European Union should reinforce its contribution to an improvement of the situation of children in Romania;

2. Calls on the Commission, the Council and the Member States to adopt and implement a joint programme with the Government of Romania to protect the children of this country and to make the necessary financial means for such a programme available as soon as possible;

3. Calls on the Commission, the Council and the Member States to adopt, in cooperation with the Romanian Government, a specific programme for the street children in the major cities of Romania;

4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the Parliament, Government and President of Romania.
B4-0201, 0249 and 0259/97

Resolution on the violation of women's rights

The European Parliament,

- having regard to International Women's Day,

- having regard to the declarations of the 1993 Vienna conference on human rights and the action platform of the 1995 Beijing conference on women's rights,

A. aware that equal treatment and equal opportunities are goals which have not yet been achieved,

B. whereas according to UN statistics the great majority of victims of human rights violations throughout the world are women and children, particularly among the refugees and victims of war,

C. whereas, according to UNICEF estimates, 130 million women have been the victims of sexual mutilation, with 2 million new cases being added every year, an unknown number die as a result and all the victims of this torture remain irreversibly mutilated for the rest of their lives,

D. whereas prostitution networks use girls and women, especially those who are obliged to leave their place of origin because of war or social or political crises,

E. deeply concerned at the scale of Islamic fundamentalist movements in a number of countries, which are seeking to introduce increasingly harsh restrictions on women's fundamental rights and civil liberties,

F. particularly concerned at the severity with which the Sharia is being enforced in Afghanistan, especially in the case of women,

1. Strongly reaffirms the principle that the rights of women and girls form an inalienable, integral and indissociable part of the universal rights of the human person;

2. Expresses its solidarity with women who, in spite of heavy pressure and threats, continue to demonstrate publicly against the violation of their fundamental rights;

3. Calls on states to act on the undertakings they gave at the Beijing world conference on women's rights;

4. Considers that the importance which the Council and Commission attach to respect for women's rights in the countries with which the Union is linked through association agreements is a test of its capacity to assert and apply respect for women's fundamental rights;

5. Strongly condemns the practice of sexual mutilation and calls on the Member States to prohibit sexual mutilation on their territory;

6. Repeats its call on the Member States to ensure that persecution on the grounds of sex is recognized as one of the criteria for granting the right of asylum in the European Union;

7. Calls on the Member States to make representations to the UN Commission on Human Rights for the problem of violations of women's rights to be given serious consideration there;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the UN Secretary-General and the Council of Europe.