MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Syria
10.9.2013 - (2013/2819(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Fiorello Provera, Nigel Farage, Bastiaan Belder, Magdi Cristiano Allam, Mara Bizzotto, Lorenzo Fontana, Jaroslav Paška, Rolandas Paksas on behalf of the EFD Group
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Syria, in particular those of 16 February[1] and 13 September 2012[2] and of 23 May 2013[3],
– having regard to the Geneva Protocol, signed in 1925, which prohibits the use of chemical weapons in warfare,
– having regard to the Biological Weapons Convention, which opened for signature in 1972 and entered into force in 1975,
– having regard to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, signed in 1993,
– having regard to the statement by the EU’s anti-terror chief Gilles de Kerckhove on European ‘foreign fighters’ in Syria of 19 June 2013,
– having regard to the statement by Carla del Ponte, a member of the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, regarding chemical weapons used by Islamic terrorists in Syria of 5 May 2013,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas on 21 August 2013 hundreds of Syrian civilians – including women and children – were killed in an attack using chemical weapons in towns to the east of Damascus;
B. whereas a UN investigation into the mass killings in Syria is currently taking place and whereas, once it is completed, a report will be given to the UN Secretary-General, who will share the results with the 193 Member States and the 15-member Security Council;
C. whereas the mandate of the UN team in Syria was to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons in a number of incidents in Syria earlier this year;
D. whereas on 29 August 2013 the UK House of Commons refused to endorse military action in Syria;
E. whereas on 31 August 2013 US President Barack Obama announced that he had decided to carry out limited punitive strikes on Syria in response to the chemical attacks in Damascus on 21 August, but added that he would seek congressional approval before the strikes proceeded;
F. whereas after three years of civil war the humanitarian crisis in Syria remains very serious, the number of Syria’s refugees having risen beyond 2 million – half of them children;
1. Condemns in the strongest possible terms the mass killings of civilians with chemical weapons in Syria; extends its condolences to the victims’ families; likewise condemns the killings and massacres carried out on both sides since the beginning of the conflict;
2. Calls on the United Nations to complete as soon as possible a thorough investigation of the mass killings in Syria and to assess responsibilities; welcomes the activity of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic; invites all parties in the Syrian conflict to allow access to any UN committee of inquiry;
3. Opposes any kind of armed intervention in Syria;
4. Stresses that any use of force against Syria should take place only in the framework of a mandate embodied in a UN Security Council resolution;
5. Stresses that a punitive military intervention in Syria, even if limited in time and scope, could widen the conflict to the region, with dangerous prospects of escalation;
6. Is deeply concerned that when the hundreds of European nationals now fighting as jihadists with rebel forces and groups linked to al-Qaeda in Syria such as Jabhat al-Nusra return home, they could use their ideological zeal and combat experience to inspire others to become radicalised and wage jihad;
7. Believes that the key to solving the conflict lies in a political solution reached in conjunction with those genuinely committed to transition, while ensuring full respect for the universal values of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, with special regard to the rights of ethnic, cultural and religious minorities and of women;
8. Condemns the persecution and massacre of Christians and Alawites, the destruction of hundreds of churches, and the kidnappings, rapes and murders;
9. Calls for immediate humanitarian assistance for all those in need in Syria, with special regard to the wounded, refugees, internally displaced persons, women and children;
10. Calls for the EU and national governments to take appropriate, responsible measures of preparedness in response to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Syria;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice‑President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the parliaments and governments of the Member States, the Secretary‑General of the United Nations and all the parties involved in the conflict in Syria.
- [1] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2012)0057.
- [2] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2012)0351.
- [3] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0223.