The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the marketing and use of explosive precursors (COM(2018)0209),

–  having regard to Rule 133 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas the number of sulphuric acid (‘acid’) attacks is increasing in the EU, and, whereas according to The Independent (7 December 2017 edition), the United Kingdom has one of the highest occurrences of acid attacks in the world, including 465 attacks in London alone in 2017, up from 77 in 2012 (CNN, 26 January 2018);

B.  whereas attacks often have serious consequences for survivors, in particular severe mutilation and disfigurement, and whereas attacks are made easier by the fact that the acid can be bought over the counter or online;

1.  Welcomes the proposal for a regulation referred to above adds acid with a concentration above 15% w/w to the list of explosive precursors;

2.  Urges the Commission to keep a separate tally of acid attacks in Eurostat statistics;

3.  Urges Member States to take immediate steps to tighten controls on sales of acid, to strengthen their laws on acid possession, to classify acid attacks as a more serious criminal offence and impose more severe penalties on perpetrators.