European Parliament resolution of 29 November 2007 on the situation in Georgia
Date: 2007-11-28
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: European organisation, Georgia, aid to refugees, cease-fire, financial aid, resolution, settlement of disputes

20.11.2008

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Thursday 29 November 2007

P6_TA(2007)0571

European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid

European Parliament resolution of 29 November 2007 on the proclamation of a European
Consensus on Humanitarian Aid

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the consensus reached by the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 19 and
20 November 2007 on a ‘Joint Statement by the Council and the Representatives of the Governments
of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the European Commis-
sion — the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid’,

— having regard to the draft Treaty of Lisbon, agreed at the European Council on 18-19 October 2007,

which recognised humanitarian aid as an EU policy area in its own right,

— having regard to its resolution of 14 November 2007 on a European Consensus on Humanitarian

Aid (1),

— having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

1. Welcomes the fact that for the first time the Council, the Representatives of the Governments of the
Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission have agreed to
define a common vision, policy objectives and shared principles for the delivery of more effective EU
humanitarian aid in third countries;

2.
Approves, therefore, the Joint Statement by the Council and the Representatives of the Governments
of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission on Euro-
pean Union Humanitarian Aid — the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid;

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

3.
of the Member States.

(1) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2007)0508.

P6_TA(2007)0572

Georgia

European Parliament resolution of 29 November 2007 on the situation in Georgia

The European Parliament,

— having regard to its previous resolutions on Georgia, particularly its resolution of 26 February 2004
with a recommendation to the Council on EU policy towards the South Caucasus (1), its resolution of
14 October 2004 on Georgia (2) and its resolution of 26 October 2006 on the situation in South
Ossetia (3),

(1) OJ C 98 E, 23.4.2004, p. 193.
(2) OJ C 166 E, 7.7.2005, p. 63.
(3) OJ C 313 E, 20.12.2006, p. 429.

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Thursday 29 November 2007

— having regard to its resolution of 15 November 2007 on strengthening the European Neighbourhood

Policy (1) (ENP),

— having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and
their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part (2), which entered into force on
1 July 1999,

— having regard to the ENP Action Plan endorsed by the EU-Georgia Cooperation Council on

14 November 2006,

— having regard to the recommendations adopted by the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Commit-

tee on 25-26 June 2007,

— having regard to the declaration of 8 November 2007 by the Portuguese Presidency on behalf of the

European Union on the current situation in Georgia,

— having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the European Union remains committed to further developing and deepening its relations with
Georgia and to supporting the country in its efforts to introduce the necessary political and economic
reforms as well as measures to establish solid and efficient democratic institutions and to tackle corrup-
tion, thereby creating a peaceful and prosperous Georgia that can contribute to stability in the region
and the rest of Europe,

B.

acknowledging the political, democratic and economic progress achieved by the present Georgian
President and Government,

C. whereas on 2 November 2007 the opposition forces mustered the largest crowd seen since the Rose

Revolution of 2003,

D. whereas six days of opposition rallies erupted in violence when police security forces used excessive
force to break up demonstrations, using water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas, leaving up to five
hundred protesters injured, including the Georgian Ombudsman, Mr Sozar Subari,

E. whereas on 7 November 2007 President Mikhail Saakashvili declared a 15-day state of emergency in
Tbilisi, since lifted on 16 November 2007, which government officials claim was necessary to restore
immediate law and order,

F. whereas, after President Saakashvili imposed the state of emergency, Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli
declared that a coup attempt had been made in the country and that this measure was a reaction to
that; whereas in a televised speech President Saakashvili laid responsibility for the events which took
place in Tbilisi at the door of Russia's Federal Security Service, alleging that he had had advance infor-
mation that there was a plot to overthrow the Georgian Government by the end of the year, but
providing no evidence for his statement,

G. whereas on the evening of 7 November 2007 two opposition TV channels, Imedi and Caucasia, were
taken off the air; whereas the buildings of Imedi television and radio were stormed by armed members
of security agencies wearing masks before the announcement of the state of emergency and without
prior notification, with part of the station's broadcasting equipment destroyed; whereas a Tbilisi court
suspended Imedi's broadcasting licence and froze its assets on the grounds that its coverage of the
events of 7 November 2007 amounted to incitement to overthrow the government; whereas the
court notification was not handed over to Imedi's director until one week later; whereas the Georgian
National Communications Commission (GNCC) has suspended Imedi's TV broadcasting licence for
three months, citing the station's violation of the law on broadcasting,

(1) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2007)0538.
(2) OJ L 205, 4.8.1999, p. 3.

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H. whereas, in a conciliatory move, on 8 November 2007 President Saakashvili proposed early presidential
elections for 5 January 2008, to be coupled with a plebiscite on the date of the next parliamentary
elections,

Thursday 29 November 2007

I. whereas on 13 November 2007 Russia handed over to Georgia, one year ahead of schedule, its base at
Batumi in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, after having completed the withdrawal of its troops
from its other base in Georgia, Akhalkalaki, in June 2007,

J. whereas the Georgian economy is still being seriously harmed by the Russian ban on imports of

Georgian wine and agricultural products, which appears to be increasingly politically motivated,

K. whereas Georgia's economic and social reforms should raise the standard of living of the wider popula-

tion,

L. whereas the situation in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia is adding to the tension in the region;
whereas the Russian troops have lost their status of neutral, impartial peacekeepers; whereas the Mos-
cow authorities' decision to grant Russian passports to the people living in those parts of Georgian
territory is further destabilising the situation,

Expresses its deep concern at recent developments that have taken place in Georgia, with the violent
1.
police crackdown on peaceful demonstrations, the closing down of independent media outlets and the
declaration of a state of emergency for 15 days as the latest escalations;

2.
Calls on the Georgian authorities to respect the principles of freedom of expression, freedom of
assembly and freedom of the media; reminds the Government of its commitment to democracy, human
rights and the rule of law;

Calls on all parties to show openness and restraint, tone down statements and engage in a constructive

3.
and fruitful dialogue aimed at supporting and consolidating Georgia's fragile democratic institutions;

4.
Urges the Council, the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the EU
Special Representative for the South Caucasus to make every effort to facilitate the dialogue between the
parties, defuse tension and contribute to restoring mutual confidence;

5.
Calls on the Georgian authorities to carry out a thorough, impartial and independent investigation
into the serious violations of human rights and freedom of the media, notably the allegations of excessive
use of force by law enforcement officials, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them to trial and
apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions provided for by law;

6.
Impresses on the authorities the concern felt by the international community at the recent events in
Georgia, which run counter to Euro-Atlantic values; reminds Georgia that democracy, human rights and the
rule of law are prerequisites for Euro-Atlantic integration;

7.
Calls upon the Council and the Commission, the EU Member States, the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe, NATO and the United States to become more active
in highlighting political grievances and shortcomings in and around Georgia, including in the implementa-
tion of the ENP Action Plan; observes that many allegations of violations of democratic procedures and
human rights in Georgia were not followed up in the last few years; is therefore of the opinion that a
more open international debate could strengthen pluralistic public discourse and democratic development
in Georgia;

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Thursday 29 November 2007

Notes the decision to hold early presidential elections and asks the Government to ensure that all

8.
candidates have equal and impartial access to the media during the election campaign;

9.
Calls upon the Georgian authorities to ensure free and fair elections in full accordance with interna-
tional standards; calls upon the Government to respect the division of powers in the Georgian political
system, to refrain from using ‘administrative resources’ during the election campaign and to guarantee
freedom of expression to all candidates; welcomes the call of the Georgian authorities for international
observers to monitor the elections;

10.
Calls on the Georgian authorities to ensure that all the media work objectively and in accordance
with international journalistic standards and that all parties and candidates are guaranteed fair and balanced
access to both public and private media; demands of the Georgian authorities, in particular, that the Imedi
TV and Radio Company be allowed to resume broadcasting without further delay, and calls upon them to
ensure that this company is reimbursed and compensated for the damage to its outlets and the destruction
of its equipment;

11. Welcomes the amendments to the electoral code adopted by the Georgian Parliament, which will
allow opposition parties to appoint six representatives to the Central Election Commission and each of the
precinct election commissions;

Calls upon all political forces in Georgia to collaborate in drafting a law to regulate audiovisual
12.
activity in order to ensure, with the assistance of European experts, that existing regulations which guarantee
freedom of expression and fair public debate are further improved and harmonised with European
principles;

13.
Encourages all Georgian political forces, together with civil society, to engage in a debate about the
separation of powers in the political system which could lead to more efficient scrutiny of the actions of the
executive and pluralisation of the public debate on many crucial issues, ranging from the social implications
of economic reform and the ‘Russian factor’ in Georgian domestic politics to different approaches to frozen
conflicts;

Notes with concern the allegations of Russian intelligence involvement in the political process in
14.
Georgia and underlines the need for increased transparency in political life, in particular as regards party
funding, media access and internal party democracy; stresses that these allegations must be proved in accor-
dance with domestic law and international practice;

15.
Calls upon the Council and the Commission to pursue a more decisive EU policy towards its Eastern
neighbourhood, which should not reject cooperation with Russia, but on the contrary offer it wherever
possible; considers, however, that at the same time the EU must adopt a more resolute stance on crucial
issues in the region and become more deeply involved, despite Russia's current negative attitude towards the
EU's role in their common neighbourhood; underlines that, in the end, it is up to the Russian authorities to
understand that it is not so much geopolitical rivalry with the EU that diminishes Russian influence in its
neighbourhood, but Russia's deplorable approach to some of its neighbours;

16.
Reiterates its commitment to Georgia's territorial integrity and calls on the Council and the Commis-
sion to make further efforts in support of the quest for a peaceful negotiated settlement of the South
Ossetia and Abkhazia conflicts;

17.
Calls on the Council and the Commission adequately to address Georgian concerns regarding the visa
regime and to accelerate the process of negotiating and concluding visa facilitation and readmission agree-
ments with Georgia;

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Thursday 29 November 2007

Calls for a European Parliament observation mission to be sent to the forthcoming presidential

18.
elections;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments
19.
and parliaments of the Member States, the President and Parliament of Georgia, the OSCE, the Council of
Europe and the President and Parliament of the Russian Federation.

P6_TA(2007)0573

Approval by the European Parliament of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of
the European Union

European Parliament decision of 29 November 2007 on the approval by the European Parliament of
the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (2007/2218(ACI))

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the letter from its President of 25 October 2007,

— having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union signed and proclaimed in

Nice on 7 December 2000 (1),

— having regard to its decision of 14 November 2000 approving the draft Charter of Fundamental Rights

of the European Union (2),

— having regard to its resolution of 23 October 2002 on the impact of the Charter of Fundamental

Rights of the European Union and its future status (3),

— having regard to its resolution of 24 September 2003 on the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for
Europe and the European Parliament's opinion on the convening of the Intergovernmental Conference
(IGC) (4), in particular paragraph 4 thereof,

— having regard to its resolution of 12 January 2005 on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for

Europe (5), in particular paragraph 5, point (a), and paragraph 6 thereof,

— having regard to its resolution of 11 July 2007 on the convening of the Intergovernmental Conference
(IGC): The European Parliament's opinion (Article 48 of the EU Treaty) (6), in particular paragraphs 8,
12 and 17 thereof,

— having regard to Article 6, Paragraph 1 of the Treaty on European Union, as revised by the draft Treaty

of Lisbon agreed by the 2007 Intergovernmental Conference,

— having regard to Rule 120(1) of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (A6-0445/2007),

(1) OJ C 364, 18.12.2000, p. 1.
(2) OJ C 223, 8.8.2001, p. 74 (Duff/Voggenhuber report).
(3) OJ C 300 E, 11.12.2003, p. 432 (Duff report).
(4) OJ C 77 E, 26.3.2004, p. 255 (Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado/Tsatsos report).
(5) OJ C 247 E, 6.10.2005, p. 88 (Corbett/Méndez de Vigo report).
(6) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2007)0328 (Leinen report).