JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
14.6.2006
- –Pasqualina Napoletano, Catherine Trautmann, Carlos Carnero González and Alain Hutchinson, on behalf of the PSE Group
- –Thierry Cornillet, Bernard Lehideux and Marios Matsakis, on behalf of the ALDE Group
- –Hélène Flautre, Raül Romeva i Rueda and Daniel Marc Cohn-Bendit, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
- –Francis Wurtz, Luisa Morgantini, Vittorio Agnoletto, Miguel Portas and Willy Meyer Pleite, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
- –Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, on behalf of the UEN Group
- –ALDE (B6‑0340/2006)
- –PSE (B6‑0351/2006)
- –Verts/ALE (B6‑0353/2006)
- –GUE/NGL (B6‑0355/2006)
- –UEN (B6‑0358/2006)
European Parliament resolution on Tunisia
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the human rights situation in Tunisia, in particular those adopted on 29 September 2005 and 15 December 2005,
– having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement between the European Union and Tunisia, which came into force on 1 March 1998,
– having regard to the Commission Communication of May 2003 entitled ‘Reinvigorating European Union actions on human rights and democratisation with Mediterranean partners’,
– having regard to the Commission Communication ‘Tenth anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership: A work programme to meet the challenges of the next five years’ of April 2005,
– having regard to the Commission Communication of 12 May 2004 on the European Neighbourhood Policy and its EU-Tunisia Action Plan, which came into force on 4 July 2005,
– having regard to the Council’s guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders, adopted in June 2004,
– having regard to the statements made by the President-in-Office of the Council and the Commission at the debate on human rights in Tunisia held on 13 December 2005,
– having regard to its report on the human rights and democracy clause in the European Union’s agreements, adopted on 16 February 2006,
– having regard to the steps taken by the presidencies of the European Union with regard to human rights in Tunisia between September 2005 and May 2006,
– having regard to Tunisia’s appointment to the presidency of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) on 1 April 2006,
– having regard to the meeting of 7 June 2006 of the EMPA Committee on Political Affairs, Security and Human Rights,
– having regard to Tunisia’s election to the United Nations Human Rights Council and its commitments in the field of human rights,
– having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas, in accordance with Article 2 of the EU-Tunisia Association Agreement and the Tunisia action plan under the European Neighbourhood Policy, human rights form an essential component of European relations with Tunisia,
B. whereas, under the action plan, Tunisia has committed itself to promoting democracy and respect for fundamental freedoms in accordance with international standards and whereas meeting these commitments is essential to the development of relations between the European Union and Tunisia,
C. recalling the three requests the Commission made to the Tunisian authorities on that date, which included the immediate release of European funding allocated to projects for civil society, the implementation of the programme for reform of the judicial system and the creation of a subcommittee on human rights,
D. noting, in this context, that the only result achieved by the European Commission was the conclusion of a convention on financing the reform of the justice system,
E. whereas the law creating a Higher Institute for Lawyers, envisaged in the convention, was adopted by the Tunisian Parliament at the beginning of May, but noting that the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers has still not received an invitation from the Tunisian Government,
F. expressing concern at the ban imposed on the Congress of the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH) scheduled for 27 and 28 May this year and at the use of force and acts of violence against defenders of human rights and international observers,
G. pointing out that the LTDH is the first Arab and African human rights league and is one of the pillars of independent civil society in Tunisia,
H. whereas the human rights situation in Tunisia still gives cause for concern and whereas the approaches made thus far by the Council and the Commission have clearly demonstrated their limitations,
I. whereas Tunisia has held the presidency of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) since 1 April 2006, which constitutes a major responsibility for the country as regards promoting democracy and human rights in the context of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership,
J. recalling the role played by Tunisia in the development of a Euro-Mediterranean area of peace, prosperity and freedom,
1. Points out that Tunisia and the European Union have been linked since 1998 by a Euro-Mediterranean association agreement, Article 2 of which contains a human rights clause which is an essential element of that agreement;
2. Regrets the fact that the situation as regards freedoms and human rights in Tunisia is still a cause for concern and calls on the Tunisian authorities to fulfil their international commitments;
3. Expects the Tunisian authorities to provide explanations for the ban on the Congress of the LTDH and for any acts of violence against defenders of human rights and Tunisian judges;
4. Calls on the European Union Presidency to make a public statement on the ban on holding the LTDH congress and on the violence against Tunisian human rights defenders, lawyers and magistrates;
5. Reiterates its request to the Council and the Commission to hold a meeting of the Association Council in order to discuss the human rights situation in Tunisia;
6. Calls on the Council and the Commission, in this context, to take all necessary steps vis-à-vis the Tunisian authorities to ensure that European funding allocated to civil society projects is unblocked and that Mr Abbou is released; calls for the activities of human rights defenders to be fully guaranteed, in accordance with the relevant EU guidelines;
7. Calls on the Commission to do everything possible to ensure that the project for the support of reform and justice guarantees the independence of the judiciary and magistrates’ freedom of action; in the same way calls on the Tunisian authorities to agree to a visit by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers;
8. Takes the view that the implementation of the current reforms must be considered as a priority in the partnership between the EU and Tunisia and should constitute a fundamental element of the harmonious development of relations between the EU and Tunisia;
9. Calls for the work of the EMPA to be facilitated by better cooperation between the Tunisian Presidency in terms of respecting human rights and expects to see significant improvements in this area, particularly with a view to the EMPA's forthcoming plenary session;
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Tunisian government and parliament, and the Bureau of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly.