ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
B4-1157/96

Resolution on the situation of refugees in eastern Zaire

The European Parliament,

A. alarmed at the violent clashes between the Zairean army and the Banyamulenge militias, Tutsis of Rwandan origin who have lived in Zaire for generations, and the fact that these clashes have caused a mass exodus of some 250 000 refugees living in the Uvira region in eastern Zaire,

B. whereas almost one million Rwandan and Burundi Hutu refugees are currently in Zaire, having gone into exile following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda or as a result of the continuing civil war in Burundi,

C. deeply concerned at the instability in the region of the Great Lakes in general and the tragic plight of more than one million Rwandan and Burundi refugees in eastern Zaire,

D. whereas all the programmes aimed at voluntary repatriation of refugees to their respective countries have been unsuccessful owing to the situation in Burundi and Rwanda,

E. whereas the situation in the region of the Great Lakes is still explosive and there is now a greater danger of all-out war, as shown by the latest fighting between the Zairean and Rwandan armies at the end of September 1996,

F. concerned at the fact that the personnel working for international humanitarian organizations and the United Nations have left the Uvira region for safety reasons, making it difficult to distribute aid to refugees in distress,

The European Parliament,

1. Condemns the fighting between the Zairean army and the Banyamulenge armed bands and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities;

2. Believes that the Zairean Government has a responsibility and an obligation to protect refugees on its territory and therefore calls on it to fulfil this obligation;

3. Calls for a final attempt at preventive diplomacy to be undertaken, and if necessary calls on the international community to do everything possible to ensure that military forces are banned from Kivu territory; pending a solution to the refugee problem, the territory would be placed under United Nations authority;

4. Calls on the Commission to consider with countries in the region possible ways of creating corridors for the supply of humanitarian aid to refugees who have fled the Uvira camps;

5. Believes that the plight of Rwandan and Burundi refugees is very closely linked to an overall settlement of the problems facing countries in the region of the Great Lakes as a whole, and Rwanda and Burundi in particular;

6. Appeals to the Heads of State of countries in the region of the Great Lakes and political leaders to initiate direct talks with a view to achieving peace in the region of the Great Lakes and finding peaceful solutions to the refugee problems, under the auspices of Mr Julius Nyerere;

7. Calls on the Council and the Member States to do everything within their power to support the peace efforts of Mr Julius Nyerere and the region's Heads of State;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Zairean Government, the governments of the region of the Great Lakes and the OAU.
B4-1133, 1141 and 1162/96

Resolution on mining in the Amazon (Venezuela)

The European Parliament,

- recalling its previous resolutions on the Amazon forest,

A. whereas the Venezuelan Government is proposing to revoke two decrees, 269 and 2552, which prohibit mining and logging in the State of Amazonas,

B. whereas the European Commission is presently financing an ECU 6.4 million project in the same state which is being carried out jointly with the Venezuelan Government to develop and implement a management plan for the conservation and sustainable development of the Upper Orinoco-Casiquiare Biosphere Reserve, currently the largest protected area of rainforest in the tropics,

C. concerned that the premature opening of the State of Amazonas to mining and logging is causing serious environmental problems,

D. very concerned that this illegal mining is violating indigenous rights and is likely to cause serious health problems resulting in high mortality and serious epidemics among the Yanomami and other indigenous peoples both within the Biosphere Reserve and more widely,

E. noting that illegal mining, both by Venezuelan miners and Brazilian 'garimpeiros', is already a serious threat to the Biosphere Reserve and the environment of the State in general and that local government institutions appear unable to control it,

F. noting that illegal logging and cross-border trade in timbers is already a problem on the middle Orinoco and that controlling it appears to be beyond the capacity of local government institutions,

G. noting that the existing legal framework in Venezuela allows several competing government agencies to grant mining concessions and that in neighbouring Bolivar State this has resulted in permits being given to mine protected areas causing serious disputes and obliging the Attorney-General's Office to intervene,

H. considering therefore that a premature opening of the State of Amazonas to mining and logging is likely to escalate beyond government control, bringing serious health and environmental problems to Venezuelan citizens, and will jeopardise the success of the Biosphere Reserve;

1. Urges the Venezuelan Government not to revoke the decrees and instead to maintain its present prudent and widely acclaimed policy of conservation and community development in the State of Amazonas;

2. Appeals to the Venezuelan Government to reform its policy towards indigenous peoples in conformity with Article 11 of Decree 3 235 of 3 August 1983 which guarantees the rights of indigenous peoples to the lands they traditionally occupy;

3. Calls on the European Commission to raise these matters with the Venezuelan Government, as the viability of a major EU-funded project in the region is at risk;

4. Requests the World Bank to raise these matters with the Venezuelan Government in its mission to the country which began on 23 October 1996;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government of Venezuela and the World Bank.
B4-1255/96

Resolution on the recent elections in Armenia

The European Parliament,

A. whereas presidential elections were held in Armenia on 22 September 1996,

B. whereas international observers, such as the OSCE/ODIHR International Observer Mission, noted numerous irregularities and 'some very serious breaches of the electoral law', for example a significant disparity between the number of people who voted and the number of voter coupons registered in the official results,

C. whereas, according to official results, the candidate, President Levon Ter- Petrosyan, was reelected by a small margin (51.75% of the votes), and whereas the observed irregularities and breaches therefore cast doubt on the overall legitimacy of the elections,

D. whereas much of the press has been silenced, and whereas one of the major opposition parties was banned during the last year,

E. whereas eight Members of Parliament were arrested, the headquarters of the main contender's party were closed down and troops and tanks sent onto the streets of Yerevan in response to protests concerning the elections,

F. whereas the EU plans to conclude a partnership and cooperation agreement with Armenia,

The European Parliament,

1. Notes that Armenia has developed economically and politically in many important aspects since its independence but deeply deplores the regression of which the recent elections are an example;

2. Calls for new elections in those areas where serious breaches of electoral law were reported;

3. Condemns the undemocratic treatment to which the opposition parties and media have been subjected and urges the Armenian Government to guarantee media freedom and freedom of speech and association;

4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and to the Armenian President and Parliament.
B4-1354, 1368, 1395, 1413 and 1433/96

Resolution on Sunday work

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the judgement of the Court of Justice of the European Communities of 12 November 1996 in the case of the UK versus the Council of the European Union which concerns Council Directive 93/104/EC of 23 November 1993 on the organization of working time,

A. whereas the Court of Justice of the European Communities annulled the second sentence of Article 5 of that Directive, which states that the minimum rest period must in principle include Sunday, on the grounds that specifying a particular day of the week for a rest period is not connected with health and safety at work,

1. Calls on the Member States and the social partners in their transposition of the working time Directive to pay due regard to the traditions and cultural, social, religious and family needs of their citizens and to recognise the special character of Sunday as a day of rest, as usually all family members are free on that day; reaffirms the right of workers to a weekly day of rest;

2. Calls on the Member States, when formulating such legislation, to take into account the particular situation of those who have objections to Sunday work in a non-essential industry or service;

3. Calls on the Member States to bring the provisions on the opening hours of shops into line with the provisions on the working hours of employees as regards Sunday rest periods, not only for the benefit of employees but also of other people affected by these occupational activities;

4. Calls upon the Member States to recognise that in a multi-cultural society there are also religious communities who may have a preference for an alternative rest day;

5. Invites the Commission to report to Parliament, as soon as possible, on the application of the abovementioned Council Directive 93/104/EC;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.
B4-0070 and 0144/97

Resolution on the continued imprisonment in solitary confinement of Mordechai Vanunu

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the case of Mordechai Vanunu, in particular those of 14 June 1990 ((OJ C 175, 16.7.1990, p. 168.)), 22 November 1990 ((OJ C 324, 24.12.1990, p. 211.)) and 10 October 1991 ((OJ C 280, 28.10.1991, p. 135.)),

A. recalling that Mordechai Vanunu has been held in solitary confinement in Israel since he was kidnapped in Rome on 30 September 1986 and sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment,

B. deeply concerned that such incarceration for over ten years in a small cell will cause permanent psychological damage,

C. aware that Mr Vanunu told the press everything he knew about Israel's nuclear weapons capacity more than ten years ago, and that he does not now constitute a security risk,

D. noting that Amnesty International described this prolonged solitary confinement as "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment¨ and called for his immediate release "to redress the human rights violations he has suffered¨,

1. Deeply regrets no mercy has been shown to Mordechai Vanunu since it adopted the previous resolutions referred to above;

2. Calls upon the competent Israeli authorities to show clemency to Mordechai Vanunu by removing him from solitary confinement and considering his early release;

3. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments of Israel and Italy.
A4-0133/97

European Parliament recommendation to the Council on improving the impact of joint actions

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the proposal for a recommendation to the Council by Mr Tindemans and others on enhancing the effectiveness of joint action (B4-1073/95),

- having regard to Article J.7 of the EU Treaty,

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

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A4-0133/97),

A. whereas since the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union the number of joint actions decided on in accordance with Article J.3 has been relatively limited,

B. noting with regret that the joint actions agreed on within the Council have covered a limited range of subjects and on the major issues of foreign policy no action of real significance has been decided on by the Union,

C. noting that numerous difficulties and uncertainties remain regarding the funding of these actions and that the principle of funding via the Union budget is the only one likely to ensure consistency between the Union's foreign policy and its other actions,

D. convinced that the European Union's joint actions would be more effective if the Council had a tangible structure and the human resources needed,

E. aware of the difficulties arising from the constant need for unanimity in the procedure for adopting joint actions, this rule being the main obstacle to improving the operation of the CFSP,

F. hoping that the Intergovernmental Conference will mark the end of the use of this principle which, in the final analysis, paralyses the Union's external action,

1. Recommends that the Council should:

(a) take the necessary steps to ensure that the qualified majority principle becomes the rule for the adoption of joint actions;

(b) note that Parliament considers it necessary for joint actions under the CFSP to be financed by the Community budget, since all expenditure under Article J.11 is non-compulsory and as such requires Parliament's final approval, and for all CFSP administrative expenditure to be entered under heading 5 (Administrative expenditure) and all operational expenditure to be entered under heading 4 (External action) of the financial perspectives;

(c) initiate a detailed consideration of the changes to be made to the procedures for the adoption of joint action, so as to make it a practical and effective instrument which serves the interests of the European Union;

(d) consult the European Parliament on every occasion on the principle of adopting a joint action, give it detailed information in every case about the content and take account of its opinion about the continuation of such action;

2. Instructs its President to forward this recommendation to the Council and, for information, to the Commission.
B4-1066 and 1087/97

Resolution on the human rights situation in Djibouti

The European Parliament,

A. alarmed at the human rights situation in Djibouti, and particularly disturbed at the violence perpetrated against members of the opposition on the eve of the legislative elections scheduled for 19 December 1997,

B. recalling that on 26 September 1997 the leading figures of the Afar opposition, including Mr Mohamed Kadamy, the representative in Europe of the FRUD (Front for the Restoration of Unity in Djibouti), as well as a number of his co-workers and members of their families, were arrested in Ethiopia and extradited to Djibouti, where they are now being held in jail,

C. particularly concerned at the situation of Mrs Aïcha Dabalé, the wife of Mr Mohamed Kadamy and a member of a humanitarian organization, who was pregnant at the moment of her arrest,

D. recalling that the parliamentary immunity of three MPs from the ruling party was lifted in 1996 on the grounds that they had expressed public criticism of the policies of the President of Djibouti, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, and deploring the fact that, after a trial marked by irregularities, they were sentenced to six months in prison and five years' deprivation of civil rights,

E. drawing attention to the existence of large numbers of refugees and displaced persons, who are still unable to return to their home regions,

F. whereas Djibouti is a signatory to the Lomé Convention, Article 5 of which states that development aid is conditional on respect for and the enjoyment of fundamental human rights and freedoms,

The European Parliament,

1. Calls on the authorities of Djibouti to ensure full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial respecting the rights of the defendant;

2. Condemns the arrest of the members of the FRUD and their families, and calls for their immediate and unconditional release;

3. Calls on the authorities of Djibouti to ensure that the legislative elections of 19 December 1997 take place in a context of freedom and democracy;

4. Calls on the government of Djibouti and the governments of the countries of the region to make every effort to facilitate the return of those who have left their homes or fled as refugees to the neighbouring countries, and, in particular, to rehabilitate or hand back their houses, many of which are being occupied by the government forces;

5. Calls on the Commission and the Council to ensure respect for Article 5 of the Lomé Convention and to keep a close watch on the human rights situation in Djibouti;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the co-presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly and the governments of Djibouti, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
B4-0962 and 0989/97

Resolution on the situation in Chittagong Hill Tracts

The European Parliament,

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

A. whereas the indigenous peoples of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) continue to demand self-rule for its ten different multilingual indigenous communities,

B. welcoming the resumption of peace talks by the government of Bangladesh and Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS), the political party representing the Jumma people of CHT, and their declared intention to resolve the issue by peaceful means through negotiations, and noting that a number of rounds of negotiations started in 1985 without tangible results,

C. having regard to the demographic policy carried out by successive Bangladesh governments towards the indigenous population of CHT, including government-sponsored policies of resettling Bengalis into CHT and forced religious conversion of the indigenous people of CHT,

D. alarmed by the continuation of the conflict in CHT and by the persistent violations of human rights,

E. concerned that more than 55,000 Jumma refugees from CHT have been living for up to ten years in poor conditions in refugee camps, suffering from inadequate health care and malnutrition, resulting in frequent epidemics,

F. noting that the conditions for repatriation of the Jumma refugees from Tripura have not yet been fulfilled,

G. having regard to its previous decision to provide a part of the European Union's financial assistance to Bangladesh for the resettlement of the Bengali settlers in the plains,

H. recognizing the right of the Jumma people to constitutional recognition of their indigenous identity and regional autonomy,

I. stressing the importance of the involvement of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Red Cross in the rehabilitation process of the Jumma refugees,

1. Calls on the Government of Bangladesh to recognise the crucial demands for the traditional land rights and regional autonomy of the Jumma people in the framework of the on-going negotiations;

2. Urges the Government of Bangladesh to review its demographic policy, to relocate the Bengali settlers from CHT and rehabilitate them in the plains, in full respect of their rights and with the full use of the financial assistance of the European Union;

3. Requests the Commission to continue to monitor the situation and to report back to Parliament on its evolution and the use of EU funding;

4. Calls for the demilitarization of the CHT region;

5. Demands that the Bangladesh Government allow free access to the CHT region for international humanitarian and development organizations;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments and parliaments of Bangladesh and India.
A4-0050/98

Resolution on the draft Financial Regulation applicable to development finance cooperation under the Fourth ACP-EEC Convention amended by the Agreement of 4 November 1995 (COM(96)0676 - C4-0101/97 - 96/0307(CNS))

The European Parliament

- having regard to the Commission draft (COM(96)0676 - 96/0307(CNS) ((OJ C 63, 28.2.1997, p. 11.)),

- having been consulted by the Council (C4-0101/97),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A4-0050/98),

A. whereas the European Court of Justice has ruled that EDF expenditure cannot be considered expenditure of the European Community and therefore subject to the legal and institutional framework of the EC Treaty,

B. whereas the European Court of Justice has consequently ruled that consultation by Council of the European Parliament on Financial Regulations for the European Development Funds is optional,

C. whereas no progress of any sort has been made towards the budgetisation of the European Development Funds since Parliament's refusal of discharge for the EDFs in 1996,

D. whereas the Commission indicates in the explanatory statement to its draft financial regulation for the eighth EDF that there is no requirement for Council to receive the opinion of the European Parliament before adopting it,

E. whereas there is no legal requirement for Parliament to legitimise the budgetary arrangements for the EDFs by adopting an opinion on the draft financial regulation for the eighth EDF,

1. Refuses to give an opinion on the draft financial regulation for the eighth European Development Fund presented by the Commission;

2. Emphasises its full commitment to the development and cooperation policies of the European Union and that the position taken in this resolution need have no adverse consequences for the implementation of those policies and is aimed, in the longer term, at improving the legal, institutional and budgetary framework within which they operate;

3. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.
B4-0329, 0338, 0345 and 0372/98

Resolution on discrimination in the sale of tickets for the 1998 World Cup finals in France

The European Parliament,

A. noting that attendance at sporting events is an important cultural and social activity, access to which must be facilitated for all social groups,

B. noting that the World Cup finals are an international event which must be accessible without any discrimination on the grounds of nationality,

C. noting that the sale of tickets is an economic activity subject to Community rules and, hence, to the Treaty articles governing competition,

D. whereas there is ample evidence that the distribution system applied by the French Organizing Committee (CFO) includes elements which amount to an abuse of a dominant market position, which is prohibited under Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty,

E. worried by the existence of parallel sales circuits offering tickets at exorbitant prices,

F. noting that a large number of complaints have been lodged and that the Commission has begun an investigation into the issue,

The European Parliament,

1. Points out that the World Cup finals are a sporting event with worldwide appeal which must retain its popular and festive dimension and be open to all those interested without any discrimination whatsoever, whether such discrimination concerns ticket allocation or seat prices;

2. Condemns the emergence of a black market in tickets and the monopoly granted to tour operators on sales of some of the tickets;

3. Calls on the CFO swiftly to take the measures required to make the allocation of tickets to the other countries fairer and to make it easier for supporters to buy tickets from abroad;

4. Supports the Commission's firm stance on this issue; in the absence of compliance with the Treaty, urges the Commission to initiate a formal infringement procedure without delay and to apply the necessary sanctions against violations of Community competition rules so as to ensure that the CFO brings its sales system into line with these rules well before the start of the tournament;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments of the Member States, the CFO, FIFA, UEFA and the national football associations in the European Union.