European Parliament resolution on the situation in Bolivia
Date: 2005-06-09
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Bolivia, democratisation, political crisis, political situation, political unrest, rule of law, social movement

C 124 E/566

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

25.5.2006

Thursday 9 June 2005

P6_TA(2005)0241

Bolivia

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Bolivia

The European Parliament,

— having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Bolivia, in particular the resolution of 23

October 2003 (1),

— having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. alarmed at the serious institutional crisis affecting the Republic of Bolivia, especially after the resigna-

tion of President Carlos Mesa,

B. whereas, according to the indicators of poverty, Bolivia is the poorest country in South America,

C. whereas most of the Bolivian population is extremely poor and urgent action is needed to ensure that
their demands for social justice receive a favourable response and that the process of democratic devel-
opment continues,

D. whereas there are profound concerns in Bolivian society as regards real democracy, which entails the

direct participation of the indigenous population in public affairs,

E. whereas broad sectors of Bolivian society, in particular indigenous people, farmers, workers and the
unemployed, are entitled to assert legitimately and peacefully their right to take part in the government
of the country,

F. having regard to the threat to social and political stability in Bolivia posed by the continuing serious
and profound inequalities, the non-recognition of the rights of the indigenous population and the
threat to natural resources and areas that may result from the uncontrolled exploitation of resources,

G. whereas the conflict has worsened in the last few weeks, with a general strike in various regions,
hunger strikes, industrial action in the education and health sectors, and tens of thousands of demon-
strators on the streets,

H. whereas, faced with the wave of protests, President Mesa handed in his resignation to the National
Congress and called on the sections of society engaged in demonstrations to allow the Parliament to
resume its sessions in order to deliberate and decide on the country's future,

1.
Reiterates its strong and determined support for democracy, the rule of law and the current constitu-
tional order in Bolivia and hopes that President Mesa's resignation will not leave a power vacuum that may
be exploited to divert the country from the path of respect for democratic values and the rule of law;

Expresses concern at the political and social events taking place in Bolivia, particularly in La Paz, the

2.
seat of executive and legislative power;

3.
Expresses the hope that a consensus will be found in Bolivian society, in order to ensure that the
country's natural resources, in particular its energy resources, will contribute to its development and the
social welfare of its inhabitants;

4.
Calls for continuing efforts to deepen and broaden democracy in Bolivia and urges the European
Union and its Member States to adequately support the democratic process in order that the country can
extricate itself from the political and economic quagmire;

(1) OJ C 82 E, 1.4.2004, p. 634.

25.5.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 124 E/567

Thursday 9 June 2005

5.
Is convinced of the need to promote room for dialogue so that, in a peaceful way and in the context
of democratic institutions and constitutional order, Bolivia may manage to overcome the crisis, and also
calls for moderation, so as to make way for constructive dialogue between all sectors of the population, in
order to create a climate of trust and understanding that is sufficient and necessary to lead the country
towards peaceful transition;

Calls for a European Parliament delegation to be sent to the Republic of Bolivia to analyse the current
6.
situation on the ground and to propose appropriate forms of aid to support peaceful and democratic tran-
sition, and expresses its willingness to monitor, as an observer, the electoral processes in which its presence
may be required;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, the governments
7.
of the Member States, the Government and Congress of the Republic of Bolivia, and the Secretary-General
of the OAS.

P6_TA(2005)0242

Freedom of the press in Algeria

European Parliament resolution on freedom of the press in Algeria

The European Parliament,

— having regard to Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement of 21 April 2002 between the European

Union and Algeria,

— having regard to the UNDP reports for 2002, 2003 and 2004 on human development in the Arab

world,

— having regard to the Commission communication of 21 May 2003, entitled ‘Reinvigorating EU actions

on Human Rights and democratisation with Mediterranean partners’ (COM(2003)0294),

— having regard to the Commission communication of 11 March 2003, entitled ‘Wider Europe — Neigh-
bourhood: A New Framework for Relations with our Eastern and Southern Neighbours’
(COM(2003)0104),

— having regard to the Commission communication of 12 April 2005, entitled ‘The Tenth Anniversary of
the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership: A work programme to meet the challenges of the next five years’
(COM(2005)0139),

— having regard to its resolution of 28 April 2005 on the annual report on human rights in the world

2004 and the EU's policy on the matter (1),

— having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly resolution on economic and financial

issues, social affairs and education, adopted in Cairo on 15 March 2005,

— having regard to its previous resolutions on Algeria, in particular its resolution of 10 October 2002 on

the conclusion of an association agreement with Algeria (2),

— having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the Euro-Mediterranean partnership seeks particularly to create an area of peace and stability

based on respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy,

B. whereas the European Union seeks to promote democracy, good governance, the rule of law and the

defence of all human rights,

(1) Texts Adopted of that date, P6_TA(2005)0150.
(2) OJ C 279 E, 20.11.2003, p. 115.