MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Libya
16.9.2014 - (2014/2844(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Marietje Schaake, Jozo Radoš, Marielle de Sarnez, Andrus Ansip, Robert Rochefort, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells, Johannes Cornelis van Baalen, Petras Auštrevičius, Ivan Jakovčić, Louis Michel on behalf of the ALDE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0111/2014
B8‑0135/2014
European Parliament resolution on the situation in Libya
(2014/2844(RSP))
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Libya,
– having regard to the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions of 15 August 2014 and the European Council conclusions of 30 August 2014 on Libya,
– having regard to United Nations Security Council resolution 2174 (2014) on Libya,
– having regard to the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) report entitled ‘Overview of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during the ongoing violence in Libya’ of 4 September 2014,
– having regard to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977, and to the obligation of parties to armed conflict to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law in all circumstances,
– having regard to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, and its Optional Protocol,
– having regard to the Council Decision of 22 May 2013 creating the European Union Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM),
– having regard to Libya’s ratification on 25 April 1981 of the African Union Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa,
– having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas clashes between rival militia forces have intensified in the past months and battles for control of Tripoli and Benghazi in particular have destabilised Libya and its democratic transition and have resulted in increasing numbers of civilian casualties, internally displaced persons and refugees;
B. whereas recent weeks have seen a severe deterioration in Libya’s security situation and political stability;
C. whereas Islamist-affiliated militia forces took control of Tripoli and its civilian airport on 24 August 2014;
D. whereas UNSMIL has been tasked with the main effort of state-building, and the European Union has focused on supporting Libya through EUBAM;
E. whereas there are reports of outside involvement in the violence in Libya, including in the form of military action and the delivery of arms and munitions;
F. whereas United Nations Security Council resolution 2174 (2014) authorises travel bans and asset freezes against ‘individuals and entities determined by the Committee to be engaging in or providing support for other acts that threaten the peace, stability or security of Libya, or obstruct or undermine the successful completion of its political transition’;
1. Calls on all parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire and an end to fighting, and condemns the increasing violence, in particular against the civilian population and civilian institutions;
2. Stresses that a further enduring destabilisation of Libya poses a grave threat to the region, the Libyan population and the European Union;
3. Is deeply concerned by reports of involvement of regional players in the violence in Libya;
4. Condemns all forms of violence and intimidation, including murder, rape and sexual assault, armed robbery, abduction, hostage-taking, kidnapping, harassment and illegal arrest and detention;
5. Supports the efforts of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and of the UN Special Envoy for Libya;
6. Urges the international community to take action with regard to the situation in Libya, through the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya;
7. Calls on the High Representative to review the mandate of the European Union Border Assistance Mission with a view to designing a new mission within the Common Foreign and Security Policy which takes into account the changed situation in Libya, especially with regard to the urgent need for state-building, the strengthening of institutions and security sector reform;
8. Suggests that the High Representative and the European External Action Service could play an instrumental role in initialling a ceasefire in Libya and designing a mechanism to monitor it;
9. Asks the High Representative to look into the possibility of taking measures against specific persons involved in prolonging the violence and breaching human rights in so doing;
10. Remains concerned by the proliferation of weapons, ammunition and explosives in Libya, which poses a risk to stability in the country and to its population;
11. Recognises the key role women have played in Libya’s transition, and stresses the importance of full participation by women in Libya’s national decision-making process and in the establishment of national institutions at all levels;
12. Welcomes the widening of measures against certain individuals, as decided in UNSC resolution 2174 (2014); calls on the High Representative to look into taking measures against those individuals deemed to fall within this definition;
13. Stresses that the central government must administer the exploitation and sale of oil, and calls on the international community to refrain from any transactions with other actors;
14. Urges the need for all parties to armed conflict to respect the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence in order to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance, the safety of civilians receiving assistance and the security of humanitarian personnel;
15. Recalls that attacks intentionally directed against personnel involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations qualify as war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;
16. Calls upon all states, in particular states neighbouring Libya, to increase control of their borders, including at seaports and airports, and to maintain thorough inspections of all cargo to and from Libya;
17. Is deeply concerned at the growing presence of Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists groups and individuals operating in Libya, and reaffirms the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and with international law, including applicable international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts;
18. 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 Libyan Government and General National Congress, the UN Secretary‑General, the Arab League and the African Union.