MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the use of armed drones
24.2.2014 - (2014/2567(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Michael Gahler, Arnaud Danjean, Tunne Kelam, Krzysztof Lisek, Elena Băsescu, Roberta Angelilli, Anne Delvaux on behalf of the PPE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0201/2014
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the reports on the use of armed drones by the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions of 28 May 2010 and 13 September 2013, and by the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism of 18 September 2013,
– having regard to the statement made by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 13 August 2013 on the use of armed drones,
– having regard to the hearing of 25 April 2013 on the human rights implications of the use of drones, organised by Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights jointly with its Subcommittee on Security and Defence,
– having regard to its study of 3 May 2013 on the ‘Human rights implications of the usage of drones and unmanned robots in warfare’,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the use of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS, hereinafter ‘drones’) in extraterritorial lethal operations has significantly increased over the past decade;
B. whereas there are reported cases of civilians being killed or seriously injured by drone strikes; whereas the number of such cases is difficult to estimate;
C. whereas international human rights law prohibits arbitrary/unlawful killings, including in situations of armed conflict;
D. whereas international humanitarian law does not permit the targeted killing of persons who are not combatants, wherever they are located;
E. whereas in armed conflict, when civilians have been killed by drone strikes, states are under the obligation to conduct prompt, independent and impartial fact-finding inquiries and to provide a detailed public explanation and access to redress;
F. whereas seven Member States (France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain) have signed a letter of intent with the European Defence Agency (EDA) tasking it to draw up a study on joint production of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) craft, which can be used to strike military targets or for surveillance of migrant boats in the Mediterranean Sea, thus starting work on a European RPAS;
1. Opposes any unlawful use of armed drones, particularly in the case of extrajudicial targeted killings; calls on the Member States, the Council and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to oppose and ban such practices;
2. Calls on the Member States to include armed drones in relevant international disarmament and arms control regimes;
3. Urges the Council to adopt an EU common position on the use of armed drones;
4. Is of the firm opinion that decisions to use lethal force taken autonomously by drones should be rendered illegal;
5. 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 European External Action Service, the Council, the parliaments of the Member States and the Commission.