MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on banning cluster munitions
14.11.2011
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Michael Gahler, Arnaud Danjean, Anna Ibrisagic, Tunne Kelam, Roberta Angelilli on behalf of the PPE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0588/2011
B7‑0592/2011
European Parliament resolution on banning cluster munitions
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) which entered into force on 1 August 2010,
– having regard to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) adopted by 107 countries at the diplomatic conference held in Dublin from 19 to 30 May 2008,
– having regard to the Draft Protocol (VI) on Cluster Munitions from 26 August 2011,
– having regard to its resolution of 20 November 2008 on the Convention on cluster munitions,
– having regard to the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 29 April 2011 on the reported use of cluster munitions in Libya,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) has been open for signature since 3 December 2008 in Oslo, and thereafter at the United Nations in New York, and entered into force on 1 August 2010;
B. whereas the CCM represents an important step forward in responding to the humanitarian problems caused by this type of munitions for the civilian population;
C. whereas the CCM prohibit the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions as an entire category of weapons and whereas the CCM require states parties to destroy stockpiles of such munitions;
D. whereas cluster munitions pose serious risks to civilians, even after their initial deployment and after a conflict has ceased; whereas, in addition, cluster munitions are arguably counterproductive to military effectiveness;
E. whereas the CCM established a new humanitarian standard for the assistance of victims and will require States to clear unexploded cluster munitions remnants that are left behind after conflicts;
F. whereas for 2008-2013 the major objective of the EU is the continued assistance to third countries to comply with the goals of the 1998 Ottawa Convention (Mine Ban Treaty) to eliminate mines and resolve related economic and social problems caused by these weapons;
G. whereas the European Parliament is deeply concerned about the reported use of cluster munitions against the civilian population in Libya;
1. Welcome those 63 states have already ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions, while 108 states have signed it;
2. Calls on all EU Member States and candidate countries not Party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions to accede to the CCM, and the States signatories to the CCM to ratify as soon as possible;
3. Calls on the EU Member States that have signed the Convention to pass legislation to implement it at a national level;
4. Calls on the Council and EU Members States to act respectively at the next CCW 4th Review Conference in Geneva from 14–25 November 2011;
5. Calls on the EU Member States to take steps to begin to implement the Convention including by destroying stockpiles, undertaking clearance and providing victim assistance, and contribute to funding or different forms of assistance to other states to undertake implementation of the Convention; welcomes the Member States who follow their responsibilities and inform regularly on the respective progress according to Article 7 of the Convention on Cluster Munitions;
6. Calls on the Member States to increase their efforts in developing suitable alternatives in order to ban cluster munitions as defined in Article 2 II of the Convention on Cluster Munitions;
7. Supports the UN process aiming at adding a protocol to the CCW dedicated to cluster munitions, which could provide a legally binding instrument against states which are major producers or possessors of cluster munitions and consistently refuse to sign the Oslo convention;
8. Calls on Council and Commission to include a ban on cluster munitions as a standard clause in agreements with third countries in addition to the standard clause on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the EU Member States and the candidate countries, the UN Secretary-General and the Cluster Munitions Coalition.