The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on the Middle East, in particular those of 16 January 2003 on the conclusion of an Association Agreement with the Republic of Lebanon, 10 March 2005 on the situation in Lebanon, 7 September 2006 on the situation in the Middle East, 12 July 2007 on the Middle East, and 29 November 2007 on the proposal for a Council decision providing Community macro-financial assistance to Lebanon,

–  having regard to UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 (2004), 1636 (2005), 1680 (2006), 1701 (2006) and 1757 (2007),

–  having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member States of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part,

–  having regard to Council Decision 2007/860/EC, of 10 December 2007, providing Community macro-financial assistance to Lebanon,

–  having regard to the statement of 16 May 2008 by EU High Representative Javier Solana on the situation in Lebanon,

–  having regard to the Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the Middle East of 14 March 2008,

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

A.  whereas the recent violent clashes between Hizbollah's and other militias in Beirut and in other parts of Lebanon, following the decisions taken by the Lebanese Government on 6 May 2008, killed dozens and wounded hundreds of citizens,

B.  whereas, based on the initiative taken by the Arab League, the parties concerned reached an agreement on 15 May 2008 to end immediately the armed manifestations in all their various forms, to resume the national dialogue based on the questions of the national unity government and the new election law, and to restore normal life and the situation to that prior to the recent incidents,

C.  whereas the current political deadlock in Lebanon paralyses the proper functioning of the country; whereas this political crisis is a considerable threat to the fragile stability in Lebanon and in the region as a whole,

D.  whereas Lebanon is a country with strong political, economic and cultural links to Europe and is an important partner of the European Union in the Middle East; whereas a sovereign and democratic Lebanon can play a crucial role both in the development of a strong Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and in finding a lasting peace in the Middle East,

E.  whereas Article 2 of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member States of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part, stipulates that relations between the Parties, as well as all the provisions of the Agreement, shall be based on respect of democratic principles and fundamental human rights, as set out in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement,

F.  whereas UN Security Council Resolution 1757 (2007) set up an international tribunal to try the persons responsible for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and for other political assassinations in Lebanon,

G.  whereas Lebanon faces substantial financial and economic challenges; whereas the authorities of Lebanon adopted, on 4 January 2007, a comprehensive programme of socio-economic reforms; whereas a macro-financial assistance amounting to EUR 80 million has been offered by the European Union,

H.  whereas more than 300 000 Palestinian refugees are living in Lebanon; whereas violent clashes have taken place in some Palestinian refugee camps in the country,

I.  whereas the situation of the Shebaa farms and the establishment of borders between Lebanon and Israel are still pending issues,

J.  whereas Syria still has a considerable influence in Lebanese internal affairs,

1.  Expresses its deep concern about the grave consequences of the current political crisis and the deterioration of the security situation in Lebanon; stresses the importance of Lebanon's stability, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity; stresses again that political stability in Lebanon can be built neither on violence nor on external influence;

2.  Supports all the efforts aimed at finding a constitutional and democratic solution, based on a national consensus, to the current political deadlock, including the election of the new President of the Republic; stresses that no lasting solution can be found without the parties involved showing a real political will to tackle the root causes of the crisis; welcomes the positive way in which the army and security services contributed to putting an end to the recent developments;

3.  Welcomes the agreement reached by the parties on 15 May 2008; encourages all Lebanese political forces to fully implement this agreement, with special regard to the pledge to refrain from resorting to the use of arms or violence with the aim of achieving political gains, to engage in a national dialogue based on the questions of the national unity government and the new election law, and to take further confidence-building measures following the recent positive steps taken by the government;

4.  Supports the plan adopted by the Arab League and the efforts made by its Secretary-General to broker a solution to the political crisis in Lebanon; supports the efforts by Qatar to mediate between the parties;

5.  Urges the President of the Lebanese Parliament to restore the functioning of the institution, which is a basic requirement of democracy, in order to contribute to the success of the national dialogue and to find a compromise solution to the current political deadlock;

6.  Reiterates the importance of the role of UNIFIL; considers it vital that the Lebanese Government exercise full sovereignty and effective control over the country's borders and territory in a way that guarantees the security of the state and its citizens;

7.  Reiterates its call for all the parties concerned to support the work of the international tribunal to try those responsible for the assassination of the former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, and other politically motivated assassinations in Lebanon, and urges Syria to fully cooperate with it;

8.  Welcomes Lebanon's effort of solidarity regarding the temporary hosting of Palestinian refugees; urges the Lebanese Government, nevertheless, to make every effort to put an end to all discrimination against them; reiterates its call for the international community to increase its assistance in order to find a solution to the problem of Palestinian refugees in the region;

9.  Calls on Syria to refrain from all interference that can have a negative impact on Lebanese internal affairs and to play a constructive role in achieving in the country;

10.  Reiterates its support for the European Union's determination to assist Lebanon in its economic restructuring; calls on the Council and the Commission to continue their efforts to support the reconstruction and the economic recovery of Lebanon and to establish closer cooperation with civil society in the country, in order to promote further democratisation in the country;

11.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General, the Secretary-General of the Arab league, the Quartet Envoy to the Middle East, the President of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, the Government and Parliament of Lebanon, and the President and Government of Syria.