European Parliament resolution on Western Sahara
Date: 2000-03-16
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Morocco, Western Sahara, national independence, protection of minorities, referendum, self-determination, settlement of disputes

C 377/354

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.12.2000

Thursday 16 March 2000

101.
Hopes that the next European Parliament report will be based on uncontentious and objectively
verifiable criteria, such as the exact state of, and arrangements for, enforcement of rights recognised in
each country’s national legislation as enforceable at law, failures to respect these rights as indicated by
judgments handed down by the courts of each country, and a breakdown, Member State by Member
State, of any adverse judgments given by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg; this report
should be based also on the work of UN bodies supervising international human rights conventions;

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102.
ments and parliaments of the Member States and the candidate countries.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the govern-

9. Western Sahara

B5-0246, 0253, 0262, 0272 and 0278/2000

European Parliament resolution on Western Sahara

The European Parliament,

, having regard to its previous resolutions on Western Sahara, in particular its resolution of 14 January

1999 (1) and its recommendation to the Council of 10 March 1998 (2),

, having regard to the most recent developments towards self-determination in Western Sahara,

, having regard to the statement by the Presidency of 21 June 1999 on behalf of the European Union,

, having regard to the United Nations Security Council resolutions 1204 of 30 October 1998, 1215 of

17 December 1998, 1282 of 14 December 1999 and 1292 of 29 February 2000,

A. whereas peace, stability and the prospects for economic integration and development in the Maghreb
region depend in large measure on a speedy and just settlement of the conflict in Western Sahara
based on international resolutions,

B.

believing in this regard that the full implementation of the UN peace plan, which provides for the
holding of a referendum on self-determination, remains the appropriate means of bringing peace to
that area,

C. welcoming the efforts made to this end by the United Nations and, more specifically by Minurso,
to identify eligible voters for this referendum, in spite of the significant obstacles which remain in
this regard,

D.

concerned at the constant postponement of the referendum on self-determination, which threatens
stability, security and peace in the Maghreb region,

E.

F.

stressing the importance of the 1997 Houston Agreements as an effective means of implementing the
United Nations peace plan,

underlining the need for the European Union to support the United Nations in its mission to organise
a referendum on self-determination in Western Sahara,

G. whereas the European Union must support the United Nations and the mediating role of Mr James
Baker in his function as special envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, for Western Sahara
and must continue to supply humanitarian aid to the Saharawi refugee population,

(1) OJ C 104, 14.4.1999, p. 112.
(2) OJ C 104, 6.4.1998, p. 29.

29.12.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 377/355

Thursday 16 March 2000

H.

alarmed at the tense atmosphere in Western Sahara which the Saharawi population must contend
with on a daily basis,

I. welcoming the constructive gesture of the Polisario Front, which facilitates the holding of the EU-OAU

summit planned for next April in Cairo,

1.
Reiterates its full support for the UN peace plan adopted by the parties and in particular for the
holding of the free, fair and impartial referendum on self-determination in Western Sahara provided for
therein;

2.
Notes the progress achieved by the UN towards holding a referendum on self-determination in Wes-
tern Sahara and calls on the parties to comply scrupulously with the provisions of the UN Security Council
resolutions;

3. Welcomes the work of Minurso in identifying eligible voters, which is helping the preparatory work
to organise the referendum to continue, although identifying the entire electorate remains fraught with
difficulties;

4.
Expresses concern at the constant postponement of the referendum on self-determination; calls on
the parties, namely the Moroccan Government and the Polisario Front, to honour the deadlines already set,
to work with the United Nations towards holding the referendum in the near future and to resume direct
talks under the auspices of the special envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr James Baker, with a view to
overcoming existing obstacles to the enforcement of international resolutions;

Urges the parties likewise to engage in political talks on the future of the region which go beyond

5.
any potential agreements on enforcing international resolutions;

6.
Calls on the Council to adopt a joint action on cooperation with international bodies and the parties
concerned to ensure the speedy and proper implementation of the peace plan in question, and to offer to
cooperate fully with the steps taken by Mr Baker in compliance with Security Council resolution 1292
(2000);

7.
Calls on the Moroccan Government and the Polisario Front to cooperate fully with the United
Nations, so as to guarantee the holding of a free, democratic and open referendum on self-determination
for the people of Western Sahara;

8.
Asks the Commission to step up humanitarian aid to the Saharawi refugees and more especially calls
on it to increase humanitarian aid to the Saharawi people, particularly in the areas of food, health and
education;

Calls for a guarantee of unrestricted freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom to

9.
demonstrate for the inhabitants of Western Sahara;

Reiterates its decision to send a delegation to Western Sahara to assess developments in the situa-

10.
tion on the ground;

Instructs its delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries to address the issue of Western

11.
Sahara at its next meeting with members of the Moroccan parliament;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the UN Secretary-
12.
General, the President of the OAU, the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and the leadership of the
Polisario Front.