MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on South Sudan
6.6.2011
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
Raül Romeva i Rueda, Judith Sargentini on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0349/2011
B7‑0355/2011
European Parliament resolution on South Sudan
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Sudan,
– having regard to the 2005 Sudanese Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA),
– having regard to UN Security Council resolution 1978 (2011),
– having regard to the Declaration of the African Union of 31 January 2011,
– having regard to the statement by the EU High Representative of 24 May 2011,
– having regard to Council of the European Union Decision 9953/11 of 17 May 2011,
– having regard to the European Union Election Observation mission final statement presented XXXX June 2011,
– having regard to Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the Southern Sudan Referendum took place on 9-15 January 2011, with more than 98% of southern Sudan voters choosing for separation from northern Sudan,
B. whereas South Sudan is expected to formally declare its independence on 9 July 2011,
C. whereas despite that South Sudan is rich in natural resources such as oil, copper, iron as well as forest and fertile land, its population live in poverty, with one of the highest infant mortality rates and the lowest education indicators in the world,
D. whereas challenges lie ahead of South Sudan to launch sustainable and eradicate poverty,
E. whereas some aspects of the CPA have not been run on time or have not yet been implemented including popular consultations in South Kordofan and Blue Nile and the Abyei referendum,
F. whereas outstanding issues, such as border demarcation, citizenship (particularly the large numbers of Southerners returning from the north), the sharing of oil revenues and use of pipelines and public debt remain to be settled,
1. Welcomes the peaceful and credible conduct of both Sudan and South Sudan in the 2011 Southern Sudan Referendum. Views this as a crucial step in implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and as a positive sign for the peaceful co-existence of both countries;
2. Believes that respect for human, social and economic rights and environment and labour core standards should be the guiding principles of democratic institutions building in order to improve the living conditions of the populations;
3. Urges the Government of South Sudan to adopt a transparent, accountable and inclusive approach to governance through the constitutional review process. Stresses the importance of all political parties working together to fully represent all people of the country and help build stable democratic political institutions;
4. Reiterates the EU’s commitment to respect the wishes of the people of Southern Sudan and welcomes the commitment of the Government of Sudan to do the same. Underlines the importance of the EU’s continued engagement with both Sudan and South Sudan;
5. Urges both parties to the CPA to continue to ensure the safety and security of all peoples in Sudan, in particular in the state of Abyei. Condemns the recent violence in this region and regrets the loss of life. Calls for both Sudanese and South Sudanese armed forces to withdraw from Abyei and for both sides to show restraint by engaging in a constructive dialogue for a peaceful solution on the status of Abyei, within the framework of the CPA;
6. Underlines its support for the efforts of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan under the leadership of Thabo Mbeki, to facilitate negotiations between the parties to the CPA. Reaffirms that the EU must be ready to provide any further assistance that is required;
7. Urges all parties to quickly resolve all outstanding CPA and post-Referendum issues, including the sharing of oil revenues and use of pipelines, citizenship arrangements for citizens both north and south and the holding of Popular Consultations in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan;
8. Calls on the South Sudan to enact policies on foreign investment, in the interest of the population, in a way that foreign investment in natural resources benefit the development of domestic economy to combat poverty;
9. Welcomes the Council’s announcement of 17 May 2011 to allocate 200 million euro to South Sudan in addition to the 150 million euro allocated last year to assist the most vulnerable populations throughout Sudan. Stresses that this new money should be to support basic services notably education, health, agriculture, food security and institutional capacity building. Reiterates that special attention must be paid to South Sudan in order to help it progress towards the Millennium Development Goals;
10. Emphasises that the EU must play a leading role at the South Sudan Pledging Conference later this year and actively encourage other donors to do the same. Calls on international creditors to cancel Sudan and South Sudan’s international debt;
11. Stresses that governance and just access to natural resources will be essential for the prosperity of South Sudan. Emphasises that all multinational entities and foreign enterprises operating in the region are sufficiently regulated and transparently declare their activities and revenues;
12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, Commission, EU High Representative, the EU special representative to South Sudan, the Government of Sudan, the Government of South Sudan, the African Union institutions and the Chairman of the African Union High-Level Panel on Sudan.