A4-0135/95

Resolution on the establishment of a European Union Analysis Centre for Active Crisis Prevention

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Treaty on European Union and, in particular, Articles B, F, J, J.1, J.7 and J.8(4) thereof and to Article 130u of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to its resolution of 15 September 1994 on the situation in Rwanda ((OJ C 276, 3.10.1994, p. 17.)),

- having regard to its previous resolutions:

. of 18 December 1992 on the establishment of the European Community's common foreign policy ((OJ C 21, 25.1.1993, p. 503.)),

. of 24 March 1994 on the development of a common security and defence policy for the European Union - objectives, instruments and procedures ((OJ C 114, 25.4.1994, p. 20.)),

. of 20 April 1994 on the right of humanitarian intervention ((OJ C 128, 9.5.1994, p. 225.)),

. of 20 April 1994 on ethnic cleansing ((OJ C 128, 9.5.1994, p. 221.)),

. of 21 April 1994 on the creation of an international criminal tribunal ((OJ C 128, 9.5.1994, p. 343.)),

- having regard to its recommendation of 22 April 1994 on the joint action on the Pact on Stability in Europe ((OJ C 128, 9.5.1994, p. 418.)),

- having regard to the Commission's annual report on humanitarian aid,

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

- having regard to the report of its Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on External Economic Relations and the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A4-0135/95),

A. noting the increase in the number of conflicts following the collapse of the bipolar system which had governed international relations since the end of the Second World War,

B. having regard to the difficulties in establishing a new international order and the internal nature of very many crises,

C. noting the real progress, albeit relative as yet, towards the establishment of the concepts of the right or duty of humanitarian intervention recognized by many UN Security Council or General Assembly resolutions,

D. mindful of the problems inherent in the essential task of preparing measures before, and not only after, disasters occur,

E. noting that a fully-fledged European common foreign and security policy is qualitatively different from a joint promotion of national interests,

F. whereas the establishment of an Analysis Centre able to collect reliable data which would guide and influence political choices and encourage preventive measures is now required,

G. convinced that the establishment of a body responsible for collecting all pertinent information for the purposes of analysis and the drafting of proposals can prove effective and useful only in a European, public and Community context,

H. having been given the task of monitoring and putting forward proposals, and anxious to use its powers and resources to assist the definition of a common foreign and security policy,

I. convinced that the European Union must equip itself with the instruments that will help it assess and define the forms of intervention which may be carried out and which may give more substance to its right of initiative in respect of the common foreign and security policy by drawing up crisis forecasts and dealing with potential crises before they escalate,

J. determined to encourage other Institutions to work along the same lines, and having already proposed, with this aim in view, the inclusion of a new heading in the Commission's operating budget,

K. convinced of the need for efficient cooperation between professionals, experts and representatives of non-governmental organizations, on the one hand, and the European institutions, on the other, and of its potential for preventing crises,

1. Proposes the establishment of a European Union Analysis Centre for Active Crisis Prevention;

2. Hopes that the Centre's main task will be diagnosis of potential crisis situations and preparation of preventive diplomacy and any public or humanitarian action that may be required;

3. Proposes that the Centre should be given a basic task of analysis with a view to helping the European Union to prevent crises through:

(a) identification of potential sources of information on crises and humanitarian disasters, a task in which the diplomatic services of the Union and its 15 Member States would intervene, and the creation of networks with various scientific research centres,

(b) compilation of this information from the organizations and experts identified,

(c) drafting at the request of the European Parliament or the Commission of reliable, detailed and constantly updated forecasts, publication of an annual report and updating of an emergency classification leading to proposals for measures incorporating, in each case, the coordination of public and private initiatives;

4. Resolves to give immediate consideration with the Council and Commission to the most appropriate way of putting this resolution into effect and of defining the legal nature of the new Centre, providing it with the necessary financial resources and staff and giving it access to the sources of information indicated above and to any others made available by the institutions of the Union and the diplomatic services of the Member States;

5. Expresses the hope that the Centre will be instructed further to assist the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy and other committees concerned and, through those committees, the European Parliament in the exercise of its power to make recommendations and monitor the common foreign and security policy:

- by addressing its annual public report to those committees and by bringing to its attention warning signals and submitting to it proposals for action, using discreet but rapid procedures;

- by forwarding on a regular basis the update of the emergency classification and suggestions based on its analyses to those committees,

- by answering questions, through those committees, from any other parliamentary committee or delegation;

so that such information and suggestions may facilitate the use of Rules 47, 46 and 92 of the European Parliament's Rules of Procedure with a view to prompting the decision-making process involving the Council and Commission;

6. Wishes the Centre to be established under the responsibility of the Commission and makes its decision on the governing bodies and the statutes of the new Centre conditional on the results of its negotiations with the Commission;

7. Believes that the European Parliament must have access to this Analysis Centre and proposes, further, so that it may effectively and independently carry out its common foreign and security policy functions as defined by the Treaties (delivering its opinion, giving its assent and exercising control over the Executive), that it should have at its disposal the means to form its own assessment of the Commission and Council's policy choices;

8. Draws attention to the fact that in 1995 the Centre is being funded from Article B7-219 of the general budget of the European Communities;

9. Instructs its Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy to draw up a report assessing the Centre's activities a year after it comes into operation;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.