Motion for a resolution - B5-0569/2002Motion for a resolution
B5-0569/2002

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

4 November 2002

further to the Commission statement
pursuant to Rule 37(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Glyn Ford
on behalf of the PSE Group
on the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation (KEDO)

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B5-0567/2002

Procedure : 2002/2599(RSP)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
B5-0569/2002
Texts tabled :
B5-0569/2002
Debates :
Votes :
Texts adopted :

B5‑0569/2002

European Parliament resolution on the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation (KEDO)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the KEDO programme,

- having regard to its resolution of 5 September 2002 on the Commission Communication on Europe and Asia: a strategic framework for enhanced partnerships (COM(2001)469) - Maaten report (P5-TA-PROV(2002)0408),

- having regard to the fourth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), which took place in Copenhagen on 22-24 September 2002,

- having regard to the Republic of Korea-EU joint communiqué issued after the first EU-Republic of Korea Summit, which took place in Copenhagen on 24 September 2002,

A. whereas the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation (KEDO) was created in 1995 to advance the implementation of the Agreed Framework under which the Democratic People's Republic of Korea agreed to freeze and ultimately dismantle its existing nuclear program,

B. whereas KEDO is providing the DPRK with two modern nuclear power plants, to be built, operated and regulated in accordance with international safety standards, and in the interim with alternative sources of energy in the form of heavy fuel oil,

C. recognising that the construction of the nuclear power plants is running at least seven years late,

D. recognising the important role of China,

E. whereas KEDO is funded through financial support from the four executive board members that are the Republic of Korea, Japan, the European Union and the United States of America, as well as through small contributions from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Chile, Argentina, Poland, the Czech Republic, Uzbekistan and others,

F. whereas, at first reading of the 2003 budget on 24 October 2002, Parliament placed the KEDO line in the reserve,

G. aware that the KEDO programme is virtually entirely funded by the Republic of Korea and Japan, with no contribution to the Light Water Reactor programme from the United States,

H. deeply concerned over reports from Mr James Kelly, the US special envoy, 'that the DPRK has admitted conducting a clandestine uranium reprocessing program',

I. alarmed by the ongoing vulnerability of North Korea to shortages of food and medical supplies and by the fact that the World Food Programme Agency has reported that it has had to suspend cereal rations to more than one million people because of a lack of international donations; worried therefore, in particular, about the most vulnerable sections of the population such as children, the sick and the elderly,

J. aware that the sale of missile technology is North Korea's only lucrative export,

K. recognising the DPRK's offer to achieve a peaceful comprehensive solution to all outstanding matters,

L. welcoming the ongoing Human Rights Dialogue between the DPRK and the European Union,

1. Urges the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to immediately clarify the uranium enrichment programme that could lead to the production of nuclear weapons;

2. Believes that such a programme is a serious breach of the North Korean commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguard Agreement (IAEA), as well as the Joint Declaration by North and South Korea on Denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and the Agreed Framework of 1994;

3. Strongly believes that the new situation may require a re-evaluation of the whole KEDO project and that the Council and Commission should take a lead from the Republic of Korea and Japan;

4. Welcomes the statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda to the effect that Japan will decide its policy after full discussions with concerned countries;

5. Expects the EU to be invited as a full member to the Seoul Foreign Minister-level meeting on 11 November and to be represented by the Commission at the highest possible level;

6. Will consider releasing the 2003 budgetary reserve for KEDO in close consultation with the Commission;

7. Condemns Pakistan for supplying technology for the development of this nuclear programme;

8. Calls on the DPRK to take immediate steps to comply with its non-proliferation commitments and dismantle its uranium enrichment programme in a verifiable manner, plus any other weapons of mass destruction programmes;

9. Believes it necessary to negotiate with the DPRK towards ending its missile exports, while acknowledging that this may require short-term financial compensation and longer-term assistance to promote export substitution e.g. in the field of raw materials;

10. Welcomes the seemingly irreversible recent moves made by North Korea towards establishing a market economy;

11. Welcomes the DPRK's admission of its involvement in the Japanese abduction cases, urges it to allow the immediate families of Japanese abductees to join them in Japan, and asks the Japanese Government to receive all family members without pre-conditions;

12. Sincerely believes that the recent progress in the peace process in the Korean Peninsula will not be jeopardised and that all outstanding issues, including nuclear and missile-related matters, should be resolved through dialogue in a timely manner;

13. Invites the Council and the Commission to confirm the importance of engaging the DPRK in the international community through constructive dialogue delivering concrete progress, which would greatly enhance the prospects for peace and security not only in North East Asia but in the world as a whole;

14. Calls on the Council, the Commission, in particular ECHO, and the international community to provide children and other vulnerable sections of the population with sufficient humanitarian aid by delivering medical supplies and more than 100 000 tons of cereals as quickly as possible to cover World Food Programme requirements for the remainder of 2002 and through January of next year;

15. Calls on the Commission and the Council, in the absence of formal diplomatic relations between the DPRK, the ROK, Japan and the US, to initiate contacts with the Government of North Korea, if possible in conjunction with the People's Republic of China, towards starting negotiations for a comprehensive solution to all outstanding problems;

16. Asks the DPRK to send a delegation of senior members of the Supreme People's Assembly to the European Parliament in order to address the nuclear weapons issue, KEDO and other matters;

17. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the member countries of KEDO , the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Government of the People's Republic of China.