Plenary sitting
12.9.2011 B7‑0482/2011
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
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 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
on the situation in Syria
Véronique De Keyser, Hannes Swoboda, Pino Arlacchi, Emine Bozkurt, Harlem Désir, Richard Howitt, María Muñiz De Urquiza, Vincent Peillon, Carmen Romero López, Roberto Gualtieri
on behalf of the S&D Group
European Parliament resolution on the situation in Syria
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Syria, in particular that of 7 July 2011 on the situation in Syria, Yemen and Bahrain in the context of the situation in the Arab world and North Africa,
– having regard to the statement of the President of the European Parliament on the situation in Syria and the reactions of the international community of 19 August 2011,
– having regard to Council Decision 2011/522/CFSP on amending Decision 2011/273/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria; Council Decision 2011/523/EU on partially suspending the application of the Cooperation Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Syrian Arab Republic; and Council Regulation 878/2011 amending Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria of 2 September 2011,
– having regard to the statements of the High Representative/Vice-President of the Commission on Syria of 8 and 31 July; 1, 4, 18, 19, 23 and 30 August; and 2 September 2011,
– having regard to the Council conclusions on Syria of 18 July 2011,
– having regard to the Joint Communication on ‘A new response to a changing neighbourhood’ of the European Commission and the High Representative to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of Regions of 25 May 2011,
– having regard to the UN Security Council Presidential Statement on Syria of 3 August 2011,
– having regard to the resolution of the UN Human Rights Council adopted at its 17th special session on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic of 23 August 2011,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas, as recently confirmed by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, more than 2600 civilians have been killed and many others have been wounded, arrested and detained in the deliberate brutal repression of peaceful protestors and human rights activists by the Syrian regime since March 2011;
B. whereas, despite widespread international condemnation, violent crackdowns by security forces against peaceful demonstrators continue and further increase in Syria;
C. whereas the reforms and amnesties announced and promised by President Bashar al-Assad have never been put into practice;
D. whereas many Syrians have to face a deteriorating humanitarian situation as a result of the violence and displacements; whereas neighbouring countries of Syria and the international community make considerable efforts to prevent the further deterioration and escalation of this humanitarian crisis;
E. whereas international humanitarian and human rights organisations and international media are not allowed to have access to the country by the Syrian regime;
F. whereas the crisis in Syria constitutes a threat to the stability and security of the entire Middle East region;
G. whereas the Association Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Syrian Arab Republic, of the other part, has never been signed; whereas the signing of this agreement has been delayed at Syria’s request since October 2009; whereas the Council decided not to take any further steps in this field as well as to partially suspend the application of the existing Cooperation Agreement;
H. whereas the new approach proposed by the European Commission and the High Representative as a new response to a changing neighbourhood is based on mutual accountability and a shared commitment to the universal values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law;
I. whereas Members of the European Parliament met and had exchanges of views with representatives of the Syrian opposition in exile on several occasions in the past months;
1. Strongly condemns the deliberate violent repression of peaceful demonstrators, human rights activists and the Syrian people at large by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad; extends its condolences to the families of the victims; expresses its solidarity with the Syrian people, applauds their courage and determination, and strongly supports their legitimate democratic aspirations;
2. Notes that the announcements and promises of reforms, the lifting of the state of emergency and amnesties made by the President have lost all credibility;
3. Notes that these developments have undermined the legitimacy of the Syrian regime and calls on President Bashar al-Assad to step aside in order to open the way to fulfil the legitimate democratic aspirations of the Syrian people;
4. Calls again for an immediate end to violent crackdowns against peaceful demonstrators and to harassment of their families; the release of all detained protesters, political prisoners, human rights defenders, and journalists; full access of international humanitarian and human rights organisations as well as of international media to the country; and access of citizens to communication and information networks in Syria;
5. Reiterates its call for an independent, transparent and effective investigation into the killings, arrests, arbitrary detention, and alleged forced disappearances and instances of torture by Syrian security forces in order to ensure that perpetrators of such acts are held to account; welcomes in this context the recent resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Council which calls for an independent international commission of inquiry to be dispatched to Syria to investigate all allegations of violations of international human rights law committed by the regime since March 2011 in order to establish the facts and circumstances of these crimes and violations, identify those responsible, and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable;
6. Calls at the same time for an immediate, genuine and inclusive political process with the participation of all democratic political actors and civil society organisations which could be the basis of a peaceful and irreversible transition to democracy in Syria; welcomes in this context the recent UN Security Council Presidential Statement stressing that the only solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process;
7. Welcomes and supports the recent extension of the scope of EU asset freeze and travel ban sanctions to further individuals and associations supporting or benefiting from the Syrian regime as well as the banning of import of Syrian oil and other petroleum products to the EU; calls, however, for further sanctions that target the regime but minimise the negative impacts on the living conditions of the population;
8. Reiterates its strong support for the diplomatic efforts of EU Member States in the UN Security Council and other international fora aimed at finding adequate responses by the international community to the current crisis in Syria;
9. Welcomes the humanitarian assistance provided by neighbouring countries of Syria to Syrian refugees; encourages the EU and its Member States to continue working together with neighbouring countries of Syria, the Arab League, other international actors and NGOs in order to prevent the potential escalation of the current crisis in Syria, including the humanitarian crisis, to other areas in the region as well as the further aggravation of the humanitarian crisis within the country;
10. Calls for further encouraging and support to the emergence of organised Syrian democratic opposition forces both within and outside the country;
11. 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 governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the Government and Parliament of the Syrian Arab Republic.