MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on banning cluster munitions

14.11.2011

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

Marietje Schaake, Elizabeth Lynne, Johannes Cornelis van Baalen, Leonidas Donskis, Kristiina Ojuland, Sonia Alfano, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells, Jelko Kacin, Robert Rochefort on behalf of the ALDE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0588/2011

B7‑0589/2011

European Parliament resolution on banning cluster munitions

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 the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), which entered into force on 1 August 2010, endorsed by 111 states on 8 November 2011 (108 signatories including 3 EU Member States, 63 ratifications including 19 EU Member States and 3 accessions),

–   having regard to the Draft Protocol (VI) on Cluster Munitions from 26 August 2011,

–   having regard to its resolution of 20 November 2008 on the Convention on cluster munitions[1],

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

A. whereas cluster munitions pose serious risks to civilians, owing to their typically large lethal footprint, and whereas in post-conflict settings the use of these munitions has caused many tragic injuries to and deaths of civilians, as unexploded submunitions left behind are often found by children and other unsuspecting innocents;

B.  whereas the support of most EU Member States, parliamentary initiatives and civil society organisations has been decisive in the successful conclusion of the ‘Oslo Process’ resulting in the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM); whereas CMM has currently 66 States Parties among them 17 EU Member States and 5 accession countries;

C. whereas the CCM requires States Parties to destroy stockpiles of such munitions;

D. whereas the CCM establishes a ne§w 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 the support of most EU Member States and a huge number of civil society organisations has been decisive for the successful conclusion of the ‘Oslo Process’ by the CCM;

1.  Calls on all EU Member States not to adopt, endorse or subsequently ratify any Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) protocol allowing for the use of cluster munitions which are prohibited by the CCM and calls on the Council and EU Member States to act accordingly at the Fourth Review Conference of the CCW from 14 November to 25 November 2011 in Geneva;

2.  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;

3.  Urges all EU Member States that have signed the CCM to take every opportunity to encourage States not party to the CCM to accede to the Convention as soon as possible, including through bilateral meetings, military-to-military dialogue and multilateral for, and in accordance with, their obligations under Article 21 of the CCM, to make their best efforts to discourage States not party to the Convention from using cluster munitions;

4.  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;

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

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

• [1]  OJ C 16 E, 22.1.2010, p. 61.