MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the escalation of violence in Mexico

9.3.2010

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Santiago Fisas Ayxela, Cristian Dan Preda, Bernd Posselt, Sari Essayah, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Mario Mauro, Monica Luisa Macovei, Laima Liucija Andrikienė on behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0188/2010

B7‑0192/2010

European Parliament resolution on the escalation of violence in Mexico

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the European Parliament recommendation to the Council of 12 March 2009 on an EU-Mexico Strategic Partnership,

–   having regard to the Commission communication of 30 September 2009 on the European Union and Latin America: Global Players in Partnership (COM(2009)495),

–   having regard to the Commission Strategy Paper for Mexico for the period 2007-2013,

–   having regard to the declarations of the five summits of heads of state and government of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean (EU-LAC), held to date in Rio de Janeiro (28 and 29 June 1999), Madrid (17 and 18 May 2002), Guadalajara (28 and 29 May 2004), Vienna (12 and 13 May 2006) and Lima (16 and 17 May 2008),

–   having regard to the joint statement of the Fourth Mexico-EU summit held in Lima, dated 17 May 2008,

–   having regard to the joint statement of the Ninth meeting of the EU-Mexico Joint Committee, held in Brussels on November 2009,

–   having regard to the Joint Statement of JPC EU/Mexico meeting, held in Mexico City on 10-11 December 2009,

–   having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

 

 

A.  whereas the EU-Mexico Strategic Partnership will be launched on the occasion of the next EU-Mexico Summit to be held in Madrid in May 2010, opening the door to closer coordination between the EU and Mexico on the reciprocal basis on global issues and in particular enhanced dialogue, coordination and exchanges in areas such as security, human rights, electoral reform, regional development and regulatory and trade policies,

 

B.  whereas security remains a major political concern for the Mexican authorities, with the increase in drug-related violence and murders in Mexican States near the US border and in particular in Ciudad de Juarez, whereas the government has increased the budget of security forces each year since 2006, including a USD 5 billion increase in the current budget,

 

C.  whereas the Strategic Partnership will therefore include an enhanced cooperation on human rights as both sides have confirmed their attachment to human rights and their willingness to cooperate towards the common goal of attaining the highest human rights standards,

 

D.  whereas the federal government deployed 10,000 soldiers and federal police officers to Ciudad Juarez, while the number of drug-related murders had substantially increased,

 

E.  whereas a social decomposition and internal fights inside a new generation of drug cartel members is causing brutal killings,

 

F.  whereas the Government under the leadership of President Calderon recognizes the challenges facing Mexico and has demonstrated a firm commitment to improving the security situation in the country by reforming public security institutions, increasing the effectiveness of the law enforcement and the judicial sectors, and confronting organized crime,

 

G.  whereas the Mexican Government has increased the security budget, launched antidrug operations with heavy military involvement, replaced numerous high-ranking federal officers in an anti-corruption campaign, and approved legislation to reorganize federal police forces,

 

H.  whereas the President has signed into law major judicial reform legislation designed to make the Mexican justice system more transparent,

 

I.  whereas on 23 March 2009, the US Government announced that the number of immigration customs and anti-drug agents and gun law enforcement officers would be increased,

 

J.  whereas the respect of free speech and journalism is in the middle of concern of the Mexican policies,

 

K.  whereas the Federal law on Transparency and Access to the public governmental information (binding since 2002) and Federal Institute to the public information (binding since 2003) contribute to the democratic consolidation of the political system,

 

L.  whereas Mexico participates to all regional and universal forum and signed to all international agreements fighting the violence of women; and encourages the laws defending gender equality,

 

 

1.  Shares with the Mexican authorities the concern at the escalation of violence in the Mexican States near the US border and in particular in Ciudad de Juarez that affects many sectors of the society and offers the Mexican authorities to continue to work to fight against criminality and remove all the causes which have provoked this escalation of violence;

 

2.  Recognises the efforts for the Mexican Government and President Calderón in their vital work of cleaning up certain institutions of the State; believes this campaign is essential in order to stop corruption and ensure that society is not left unprotected;

 

3.  Welcomes the recent initiatives taken by the Government in involving the army in security and fight against organized crime; considers that the deep reform of the judicial and penal system with new and enhanced competences for judges, public prosecutors and police will make it more transparent and effective;

 

4.  Recognizes the importance of the Plan launched by the Government on health, education, social help and enforcement of the political strategy to recover Ciudad de Juarez; considers that this EUR 200 million Plan could help to remove the social causes for violence and restore peace and security in the area; asks for the improvement of the intelligence cooperation with the US;

 

5.  Stresses the close cooperation of the Mexican Government with a view to promoting effective multilateralism and reinforcing the UN's capacities for preserving and consolidating peace and ensuring respect for human rights, while also tackling, in the framework of international law, common threats to peace and security such as trafficking in drugs and arms, organised crime, terrorism and human trafficking, in line with the Lima Declaration;

 

6.  Welcomes the Merida Initiative, where the governments of the United States and Mexico have formed a partnership to meet the threats emanating from narcotics traffickers and criminal organizations, threats that directly affect both countries;

 

7.  Recognizes that to succeed in the struggle against organized crime, the government and security forces need the support of the populace, and this requires respect for human rights and a willingness to listen to the concerns of civil society;

 

8.  Strongly condemns all murders, and in particular media-related murders, and supports the competent authorities in their efforts to implement all necessary measures to identify, arrest and bring to justice those responsible for these murders;

 

9.  Welcomes the approval by the Chamber of Deputies of a measure to impose special penalties for crimes against "journalistic activity" and asks the Senate to approve it in order to combat violence against the media;

 

10.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OEA), the EUROLAT Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliament and the Government of the Republic of Mexico.