MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the entry into force of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and the role of the EU

5.7.2010

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

Johannes Cornelis van Baalen, Elizabeth Lynne on behalf of the ALDE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0413/2010

B7‑0431/2010

European Parliament resolution on the entry into force of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and the role of the EU

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Convention on cluster munitions (CCM) adopted by 107 countries at the diplomatic conference held in Dublin from 19 to 30 May 2008,

–   having regard to the message of 30 May 2008 from the United Nations Secretary-General encouraging ‘States to sign and ratify this important agreement without delay’ and stating that he looks forward ‘to its rapid entry into force’,

–   having regard to its resolution of 20 November 2008 on the Convention on cluster munitions (P6_TA(2008)0565),

–   having regard to its resolution of 10 March 2010 on the Implementation of the European Security Strategy and the Common Security and Defence Policy (P7_TA(2010)0061),

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

A. whereas the CCM has been open for signature since 3 December 2008 in Oslo, and thereafter at the United Nations in New York, and will enter into force on the first day of the sixth month after the thirtieth ratification, which is 1st of August 2010,

B.  whereas the CCM will prohibit the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions as an entire category of weapons,

C. whereas the CCM will require states parties to destroy stockpiles of such munitions,

D. whereas the CCM will establish a new humanitarian standard for the assistance of victims and will require States to clear unexploded cluster munitions remnants that are left behind after conflicts,

E.  whereas until now twenty EU Member States have signed, eleven have ratified, and seven have neither signed nor ratified CCM,

F.  whereas after entry into force of CCM on 1 August 2010 the process of acceding to the convention will become more demanding because states will need to accede to the Convention in a one step process,

G. whereas the support of most EU Member States and a huge number of civil society organisations has been decisive for the successful conclusion of 'Oslo Process' by the CCM,

H. whereas the signature and ratification by all 27 EU Member States prior to the entry into force of CCW on 1 August 2010 would represent a strong political signal for a world without cluster munitions and the EU's objectives with regard to the fight against the proliferation of weapons that kill indiscriminately,

1.  Urges all EU Member States to sign and ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) as a matter of urgency before 1 August 2010, including the non signatory states and the states that have signed but not yet ratified; mindful that the CCM enters into force on 1 August 2010 states and after this date states will need to accede to the Convention in a one step process;

2.  Urges all EU Member States that have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions to take every opportunity to encourage States not party to the CCM to sign and ratify or accede to the Convention as soon as possible, including through bilateral meetings, military-to-military dialogue and multilateral fora, as they are obligated to under Article 21 of the Convention;

3.  Calls on the EU Member States not to take any action that might circumvent or jeopardise the CCM and its provisions; in particular, calls on all EU Member States not to adopt, endorse or subsequently consent to be bound by a possible Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) protocol allowing for the use of cluster munitions which would not be compatible with the prohibition of such munitions pursuant to Articles 1 and 2 of the CCM; calls on the Council and EU Members States to act respectively at the next CCW meeting on 30 August - 3 September 2010 in Geneva;

4.  Urges EU Member States that are not yet party to this Convention to take interim steps pending adherence, including to adopt a moratorium on the use, production and transfer of cluster munitions and to start the destruction of cluster munitions stockpiles as a matter of urgency;

5.  Urges all states to participate in the upcoming First Meeting of States Parties (1MSP) that will take place on 8 November - 12 November 2010 in Vientiane, Laos, the most heavily cluster munitions contaminated country in the world;

6.  Urges EU member states to take steps to begin to implement the Convention including by destroying stockpiles, undertaking clearance and providing victim assistance, and contribute to funding or different forms of assistance to other states to undertake implementation of the Convention;

7.  Urges EU Member States that have signed the Convention to pass legislation to implement it at a national level;

8.  Calls on the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to make all efforts in order to realise the accession of the Union to the CCM which is possible after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty;

9.  Calls on the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to make all efforts in order to develop a strategy for the first review conference in the form of a Council Decision on a Common Position;

10. Calls on Council and Commission to include the ban on cluster munitions as a standard clause in agreements with third countries in addition to the standard clause on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;

11. Calls on Council and Commission to introduce the fight against cluster munitions into Community assistance programmes in order to support third countries in destruction of stockpiles and humanitarian assistance;

12. Urges EU Member States to be transparent about their efforts undertaken under this resolution and to report on their activities publicly;

13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the EU Member States, the UN Secretary-General and the Cluster Munitions Coalition.