MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation of UNRWA
5.2.2018 - (2018/2553(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Hilde Vautmans, Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Gérard Deprez, Marian Harkin, Ivan Jakovčić, Patricia Lalonde, Louis Michel, Javier Nart, Urmas Paet, Maite Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz, Jozo Radoš, Marietje Schaake, Pavel Telička, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells, Ivo Vajgl, Cecilia Wikström on behalf of the ALDE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0085/2018
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the Middle East peace process,
‒ having regard to previous Council conclusions on the Middle East peace process,
‒ having regard to the relevant UN General Assembly and UN Security Council resolutions, and, in particular, UNGA Resolution 71/91 of 6 December 2016,
‒ having regard to the Joint Declaration of the European Union and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) of 7 June 2017 on European Union support to UNRWA (2017-2020),
‒ having regard to its resolution of 25 October 2017 on the Council position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2018[1],
– having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the UN General Assembly established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (hereafter referred to as ‘the Agency’) almost 70 years ago, and mandated it to provide assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees pending a just and lasting solution;
B. whereas the Agency’s mandate has been repeatedly renewed by the UN General Assembly and currently runs until 30 June 2020;
C. whereas the Agency’s work helps to ensure that the essential needs for the well-being, protection and human development of Palestine refugees are met; whereas it has demonstrated its capacity to provide education, health, relief and social services;
D. whereas the Israeli authorities consider that the Agency misuses the humanitarian aid of the international community, including EU funds, supports anti-Israel rhetoric and tolerates terrorist activities;
E. whereas the United States has announced that it will withhold USD 65 million from a scheduled payment of USD 125 million; whereas this decision was, according to the State Department, intended to encourage other countries to increase aid, as well as to promote reform within the Agency;
F. whereas this decision was taken shortly after US President Donald Trump formally recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the subsequent declaration of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that the US is no longer fit to broker an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement;
G. whereas the EU’s continued support to the Agency is a key element in its strategy of contributing to the promotion of stability in the Middle East and to the viability of the two-state solution, as reiterated in the Joint Declaration between the EU and UNRWA of 7 June 2017 and, more recently, by the European Parliament in its resolution of 25 October 2017;
H. whereas, even before the US decision, the EU had recognised the need to put the Agency on a more stable financial footing in the Joint Declaration between the EU and UNRWA of 7 June 2017;
1. Expresses its deep concern at the Agency’s serious funding crisis; in this particular context, urges all donors to live up to their commitments;
2. Recalls the commitment made by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to assist the Agency in securing financial resources to enable it to implement the mandate given by the UN General Assembly, to operate on a sustainable and cost-effective basis and to ensure the quality and level of services provided to Palestine refugees;
3. Welcomes the decision of various Member States, including the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Finland and Belgium, to bring forward the payment of their financial contributions for 2018 to the Agency;
4. Urges the United States to reconsider its decision and to honour the payment of its entire scheduled contribution;
5. Urges the Agency to continue to improve its management structure and strategic planning, to ensure timely and accurate programme and financial reporting to the EU, to investigate allegations of neutrality violations by its staff members and to take appropriate disciplinary action where appropriate;
6. Reiterates that the EU’s main objective is to achieve the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, with the secure State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security, on the basis of the right of self-determination and full respect for international law;
7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General, the Quartet Envoy to the Middle East, the Knesset and the Government of Israel, the President of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Legislative Council.
- [1] Texts adopted, P8_TA(2017)0408.