MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Syria

4.10.2016 - (2016/2894(RSP))

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 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Gabriele Zimmer on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group

B8‑1090/2016

European Parliament resolution on Syria

(2016/2894(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Syria and the ISIS offensive, and in particular those of 11 June 2015[1], 30 April 2015[2], 12 February 2015[3] and 18 September 2014[4],

–  having regard to the relevant UN Security Council resolutions,

–  having regard to the Charter of the United Nations,

–  having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

–  having regard to the 1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees and the 1967 Protocol thereto,

–  having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

1.  Strongly condemns all crimes committed against the civilian population of Syria; condemns in the strongest possible terms the systematic violation of human rights and of international humanitarian law resulting from the terrorist acts perpetrated by the so‑called Islamic State and other radical armed groups against the Syrian people, which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity;

2.  Urges all parties to the conflict to immediately stop all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure including water and electrical infrastructure, to lift all sieges and to grant unhindered and safe access to international aid workers; strongly supports the demands of the UN Special Envoy for a cessation of violence and the protection of civilians and civil infrastructure, and for weekly unconditional 48-hour pauses in the fighting to allow humanitarian access at least for the UN and its partners to reach Aleppo, and the evacuation of injured and sick people;

3.  Urges all parties to return to the ceasefire agreement of 26 September 2016;

4.  Calls for the EU to ensure greater international support for the increased numbers of refugees; calls for the immediate issuing of humanitarian visas at EU embassies and consular offices for asylum-seekers, as well as the introduction of mandatory resettlement programmes at EU level instead of the weak voluntary resettlement programme proposed by the Council;

5.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President of the European Council, the President of the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the presidents of the parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of the Syrian Arab Republic, Russia, the United States, Iran, Turkey, the Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean, and the League of Arab States.

• [1]  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0229.
• [2]  OJ C 346, 21.9.2016, p.103.
• [3]  OJ C 310, 25.8.2016, p. 35.
• [4]  OJ C 234, 28.6.2016, p. 25.