MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on emergency aid for Haiti

3.2.2010

to wind up the debate on the statement by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Patrick Le Hyaric, Sabine Wils, Helmut Scholz, Nikolaos Chountis, Miguel Portas, Willy Meyer, Jacky Hénin, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Gabriele Zimmer, Marie-Christine Vergiat on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0072/2010

B7‑0087/2010

European Parliament resolution on emergency aid for Haiti

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the latest appeal by the United Nations for emergency aid for Haiti,

–   having regard to the statement by the Commission on emergency aid for Haiti,

–   having regard to the initial emergency measures taken by the European Commission,

–   having regard to the first international meeting in Montreal on the reconstruction of Haiti,

–   having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas having regard to the scale of the earthquake which has devastated Haiti and its enormous human, social and health costs,

B.  having regard to the endemic underdevelopment and the extreme economic and social poverty of the country, most of whose 12 million inhabitants were living on less than USD 2 a day prior to the disaster,

 

C. whereas this situation of extreme poverty has exacerbated the destructive effects of the earthquake, provoking the most serious humanitarian crisis for decades,

 

D. whereas France and the international institutions (first and foremost, the International Monetary Fund) have imposed a colossal debt and debt-servicing burden on Haiti, which has helped bring about its underdevelopment,

 

E.  whereas the United Nations estimates that Haiti requires emergency aid amounting to USD 575 million,

 

F.  whereas the reconstruction and development of the country in the short, medium and long term must be undertaken without delay,

 

G. whereas Haiti will find the political, economic and social stability which it needs only by respecting democratic principles and the freedom of peoples to choose for themselves,

 

1.  Declares its solidarity with the people of Haiti in the face of the catastrophe which has struck them so hard and welcomes the immediate mobilisation of emergency aid throughout the world, in particular the agreements made with 46 countries for the dispatch of civilian professional aid workers and for help with reconstructing the country;

2.  Stresses the leading role of the United Nations in coordinating international humanitarian aid, and insists that the government and people of Haiti have a key part to play in setting up appropriate structures to promote the country’s reconstruction;

 

3.  Insists on the need to respect the principle of Haitian sovereignty and territorial integrity;

 

4.  Calls for the immediate and definitive cancellation of all of Haiti’s international debts to international financial institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Inter-American Development Bank, but also to Haiti’s main trading partners such as the United States and the European Union;

 

5.  Supports all the concrete cooperation initiated by various countries, in particular the eight measures taken at the last summit of the ALBA countries, including:

 

-   financial support through the ALBA Humanitarian Fund for Haiti,

-   continued energy support through Petrocaribe and the setting-up of a special plan for the direct supply of fuel for humanitarian aid vehicles,

-   agricultural initiatives to supply foodstuffs and production plans and to launch a reafforestation campaign;

 

6.  Calls on the Commission, the Council and the Member States to take all necessary measures to supply humanitarian aid to Haiti, both in financial terms and through sending civilian professional expertise (doctors, specialists, etc.) to cope with the emergency situation and to help with reconstructing the country;

 

7.  Calls for a cooperation mechanism for earthquake detection, prevention and protection to be set up during the reconstruction effort;

 

8.  Supports the proposal for a major conference on the reconstruction and sustainable development of Haiti to be organised under the aegis of the United Nations;

 

9.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the ACP Council, the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, CARICOM and the Haitian Government.