MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

24.10.2005

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 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Cecilia Malmström and Anneli Jäätteenmäki
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on Western Sahara

B6‑0571/2005

European Parliament resolution on Western Sahara

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to the 1951 UN Convention and to the 1967 UN protocol relating to the status of refugees,

-  having regard to the UN Security Council resolutions on Western Sahara,

-  having regard to its previous resolution of 15 March 2000 on Western Sahara,

-  having regard to the Mission Report of the Technical Mission to Morocco on illegal immigration of 7-11 October 2005,

-  having regard to the Council and Commission statements of 12 October 2005 on current problems regarding immigration,

-  having regard to Rule 115 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  deeply concerned at reports that large groups of migrants, including possible refugees, from West African countries have been rounded up by Moroccan forces and either summarily deported to Algeria or dumped in desert areas close to the border with Mauritania,

B.  whereas hundreds of individuals of sub-Saharan origin have been rounded up in recent days by the Moroccan authorities as part of their efforts to clear migrants away from areas around the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, where some migrants have been killed and injured while attempting to enter EU territory,

C.  whereas many are reported to have been taken long distances by bus and left with little or no food and water in desert areas along Morocco's borders with Algeria and Mauritania; whereas some of the migrants are reported to have died as a result,

D.  convinced that driving people into desert areas without any access to food or water is a very serious human rights violation,

E.  whereas a special UNCHR team, sent on 11 October, has still not been permitted to travel outside the Moroccan capital, Rabat,

F.  concerned at the lack of substantial progress in finding a fair and lasting political solution, acceptable to the different parties, to the dispute over Western Sahara,

G.  whereas this conflict is causing unacceptable hardship and suffering for innocent people and has led to an unbearable humanitarian situation which should not be tolerated any longer,

H.  whereas human rights and refugee protection can never be sacrificed in the fight against illegal immigration,

I.  whereas the only effective and principled way to tackle the migration pressures on Europe is through a comprehensive policy that balances migration control with respect for international obligations,

1.  Believes that these deportations breach the fundamental safeguards of international refugee and human rights law, and fears for the lives and safety of those left in border regions;

2.  Believes that Member States have a duty to ensure that no person is expelled from Union territory without full consideration of any claim to international protection;

3.  Welcomes in principle the Commission proposal on improving the protection capacity of countries in refugees' regions of origin and transit, with a view to creating the conditions for durable solutions involving resettlement, local integration and voluntary repatriation;

4.  Believes strongly that access to food, to water and to medical attention are fundamental rights that should be available to everyone at all times, regardless of their nationality or the legality of their stay in a country;

5.  Recognises the right of states to control their borders and to regulate the entry of non-citizens into their territory, but insists that Morocco has obligations under international law to protect the basic human rights of all individuals within its territories, including irregular migrants;

6.  Calls on the Moroccan government to give, without further delay, its permission to the UNCHR team to gain access to those about whom it is concerned;

7.  Welcomes the fact that the European Parliament is sending a delegation to Ceuta and Melilla on 7-10 December 2005, and expects the Spanish and Moroccan governments to cooperate fully;

8.  Calls on the EU to reinforce its partnership with Morocco in addressing migration, which represents an enormous problem for all countries concerned, and to assist Morocco in its efforts to meet its obligations under the 1951 Geneva Convention;

9.  Insists on the fact that the 10th anniversary summit taking place within the framework of the Barcelona Process on 27 and 28 November 2005 should also have migration high on its agenda, in order to adopt initiatives for increased Euromed cooperation on migration and to agree concrete steps to ensure an approach to migration that properly reflects the pan-African nature of the challenge;

10.  Believes that migration issues should be on the agenda of the forthcoming meeting between the EU and the African Union (AU); a common EU-AU programme should be prepared on the occasion of the AU-EU troika to be held on 1 and 2 December 2005;

11.  Invites the AU-EU troika to identify a number of concrete initiatives aimed at improving the management of migration and tackling illegal migration and the trafficking in and smuggling of human beings;

12.  Urges all parties concerned to engage in political talks on the future of the whole region which go beyond any potential agreements on enforcing international resolutions;

13.  Gives its strong support to the UN Secretary-General and his Special Envoy in their efforts to achieve a mutually acceptable political solution to the conflict over Western Sahara;

14.  Invites all the parties concerned, the neighbouring states and the EU to cooperate more actively with the UN in finding a fair and lasting solution to the conflict;

15.  Calls on the Council and Commission to appropriately encourage the parties concerned to work with the UN towards acceptance and implementation of the Peace Plan;

16.  Asks the Commission to step up humanitarian aid to the Saharawi refugees, and, more especially, calls on it to increase humanitarian aid to the Saharawi people, particularly in the areas of food, water, health and education;

17.  Reiterates its decision to send a European Parliament delegation to Western Sahara to assess developments in the situation on the ground;

18.  Asks its delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA), which will meet in Rabat on 20 and 21 November 2005, to address the issues of migration and Western Sahara at the forthcoming EMPA plenary;

19.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the UN Secretary General, the Secretary-General of the African Union, the Parliament and Government of Morocco, and the Frente Polisario.