A4-0095/99

European Parliament recommendation to the Council on the European Union's Mediterranean policy

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the proposal for a recommendation to the Council by Mr Spencer and other Members on the European Union's Mediterranean policy (B4-0282/98),

- having regard to Article J.7 of the Treaty on European Union,

- having regard to Rule 46(3) of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to its resolution of 11 October 1995 on the European Union's Mediterranean policy in relation to the Barcelona Conference ((OJ C 287, 30.10.1995, p. 121.)),

- having regard to its resolution of 14 December 1995 on the Barcelona Conference ((OJ C 17, 22.1.1996, p. 178.)),

- having regard to its resolution of 13 March 1997 on the joint report by the Council Presidency and the Commission on Mediterranean policy ((OJ C 115, 14.4.1997, p. 159.)),

- having regard to the Barcelona Declaration and the programme of activities of 28 November 1995 adopted at the conference,

- having regard to the conclusions of the Malta Conference of 15 and 16 April 1997,

- having regard to the report by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy (A4-0095/99),

A. whereas the revival of the peace process would have a positive impact on the development of the Mediterranean partnership,

B. stressing that if the current deadlock in the Middle East peace process is not overcome the Barcelona process, which is based on the principle of mutual cooperation between the signatory parties, will not be able to advance,

C. recognising the efforts made by the EU and the need for it to assume a fundamentally more significant role in the Middle East peace process proportionate to its consistent political, financial and economic commitments,

D. recognising with regret that, despite the commitment entered into by all states on signature of the Barcelona Declaration to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the human rights situation not only has not improved but in some states has deteriorated even further,

E. deeply concerned that the principle laid down in the Barcelona Declaration of resolving conflicts among partners exclusively by peaceful means and subject to renunciation of the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of another conference participant has been completely disregarded by many participants, in some cases repeatedly,

F. recognising with regret that, nearly three years after the Barcelona Conference, it remains the case that not all Mediterranean states have as yet been invited to participate in the Barcelona process,

G. recognising the successes registered hitherto with the signature of five association agreements, but concerned at the length of time taken by the Member States to ratify these agreements, which is delaying their entry into force, the difficulties that have arisen with the negotiation of the remainder and the lack of flexibility in the negotiating mandate given by the Council to the Commission,

H. pointing out that in spite of the signing of these association agreements, that include a binding democracy and human rights clause, in some of these countries the situation is continually worsening,

I. astonished at the fact that the Commission has hitherto failed to submit any draft of a multilateral agreement for debate,

J. welcoming the multifarious activities that civil society has undertaken in this region as standing in gratifying contrast to the prevailing political stagnation, and hoping for an immediate resumption of decentralised cooperation in the Mediterranean,

K. welcoming as well the constructive attitude of the NGO forum that meets regularly parallel to the official interministerial meetings,

L. mindful of the first Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Forum held in Brussels on 27 and 28 October 1998 and the Final Declaration adopted by that Forum, in particular the appeal made to the Member States of the European Union to make concerted efforts to achieve a fair and lasting solution in the Middle East,

M. firmly convinced that the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Forum will offer members of parliament from the EU and the Mediterranean countries the opportunity for a useful exchange of ideas in order to relaunch and develop the Euro-Mediterranean partnership,

N. recognising the right of all Mediterranean third countries to participate in the Barcelona process,

1. Recommends that the Council:

a) expand its entire Near Eastern policy so as to ensure that the EU can, in recognition of its vital political interests in the region and in cooperation with the United States of America, assume full responsibility for playing a full part in decision-making in the Middle East peace process and commit its own mediating effort to that process;

b) reinvigorate the area of political and security partnership with new, concrete proposals, having regard in particular to confidence-building measures, stability pacts and arms-limitation and disarmament agreements;

c) instruct the Commission to make an annual report on the situation of human rights in the signatory countries of the Barcelona Declaration with special regard to the States with which an association agreement has already been concluded;

d) find ways to support the organisation in Stuttgart of a parallel NGO forum meeting with the aim of encouraging the active participation in the Barcelona process of the civil society of the countries concerned;

e) invite Libya to attend the next conference in Stuttgart, subject to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan confirming that the country has by then fulfilled the commitments it entered into concerning the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and its recognising the principles of the Barcelona Conference concerning the right of all the partners in the dialogue to exist;

f) ensure that the Mediterranean third countries not currently participating in the Barcelona process (Albania, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovenia) are able to participate in that process as observers, as an initial step, taking account of their interests in the region; and that it consider granting similar status, as has already been granted to Mauritania, to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, for the same geopolitical reasons;

g) place its negotiating mandate to the Commission for the Euro-Mediterranean agreements on a fundamentally more flexible footing, excluding democracy and human rights clauses, so that the specific needs of each of the partners can better be taken into consideration;

h) draw up, together with the associated Mediterranean countries and within the framework of existing financial assistance, a plan enabling the most needy associated countries gradually to reduce the burden of their foreign debt, which would include debt cancellation in a strategy whereby the indebted state undertakes to reinvest the money owed in projects for economic recovery and reform measures, as recently proposed by the President-in-Office of the Council, Chancellor Schröder, at the G8 Summit;

i) adopt a common set of rules, including in particular a Charter of Immigrants' Rights, governing all aspects of immigration, after the European Commission has drawn up its proposal in accordance with the Amsterdam Treaty, and promote cooperation between the Mediterranean countries on dealing with immigration;

2. Instructs its President to forward this recommendation to the Council and, for information, the Commission.