Text tabled : B7-0721/2011

  Proinsias De Rossa (S&D), in writing. – Bashar al-Assad must immediately resign as President of Syria. His dictatorial regime is facing increasing international isolation because of its continuing brutal repression of the Syrian people. The UN Security Council should refer the crimes against humanity committed by the al-Assad regime against the Syrian people to the International Criminal Court. I welcome the sanctions imposed by the EU on the Syrian regime on 14 November and 1 December and would encourage the EU and the UN to introduce further measures that target the Syrian regime but that minimise the negative impact on the Syrian people. I applaud the courage and determination of the Syrian people, particularly its women, in their struggle for freedom, dignity and democracy. The Syrian opposition should seek to establish a united platform committed to achieving freedom and democracy and respect for human rights for all in Syria. It should continue to engage with the international community. The EU must be ready to develop a new partnership with Syria once al-Assad goes and a transition to democracy begins.