The European Parliament,

A.  mindful that during the last century millions of children, women and men have been victims of unimaginable atrocities that deeply shock the conscience of humanity, including terrorist attacks on innocent civilians,

B.  whereas on 17 July 1998 the Statute of the International Criminal Court to judge war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity was adopted in Rome,

C.  whereas, for the first time, a court with world-wide jurisdiction will be established as an effective deterrent and a means of redress for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community,

D.  noting that, as of 5 February 2002, 52 countries have ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and that 60 ratifications are required for the Statute to enter into force and for the court to become a reality,

E.  considering that the first Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute has been scheduled by the United Nations for September 2002 and that all countries that will have ratified by June 2002 will participate as full members,

F.  considering, however, that some regions of the world are still severely under-represented within the group of countries that have ratified the Rome ICC Statute and that further steps are necessary to ensure that accession to the Rome ICC Statute is as universal as possible,

G.  conscious that the actual establishment of the Court will be a momentous process and that the steps that need to be taken over the next months, leading to the entry into force of the Rome Statute, will be crucial in ensuring the long-term success of the Court,

1.   Welcomes the efforts made by the Council and Member States for the early establishment of the ICC and the full implementation of the Rome Statute pursuant to the Common Position of 11 June 2001;

2.   Congratulates the 52 states that have already ratified or acceded to the Rome Treaty and welcomes the imminent entry into force of the Treaty;

3.   Commends the essential role played by the Commission, in cooperation with non-governmental organisations, in encouraging prompt and effective ratification by countries throughout the world;

4.   Expresses deep disappointment that the United States Executive and Legislature are continuing to oppose the establishment of the International Criminal Court, i.e. by supporting and/or passing different forms of legislation against the Court, including rules barring all cooperation with the proceedings or investigations of the Court, prohibiting the funding of US participation in ICC negotiations, and permitting the ‘use of all means necessary and appropriate’ to free U.S. allied personnel detained by the Court;

5.   Urges EU Member States and candidate countries that have not yet ratified the Rome Treaty to do so as soon as possible and to adopt any necessary implementing legislation;

6.   Urges all other states to ratify the Treaty as soon as possible in order to ensure the widest participation from all regions of the world in the first Assembly of States Parties;

7.   Requests that, in all bilateral and multilateral contacts, particularly with countries from regions that are under-represented, the European Union and Member States undertake the necessary steps to encourage ratification and the adoption of implementing legislation by the largest possible number of states;

8.   Calls upon the Spanish Presidency of the European Union to formulate a concrete plan of action for adoption at the European Council meeting in Valencia for the effective establishment of the Court and the ratification of its Statute by countries of all regions of the world, in cooperation with the United Nations Preparatory Commission and the host country;

9.   Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the parliaments of the Member States, the governments and parliaments of the candidate countries and the UN Secretary-General.