Activities of Maria Eleni KOPPA related to 2011/2007(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Progress on mine action (short presentation)
Amendments (28)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
- having regard to the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and the protocols thereto, especially Amended Protocol II on Landmines, Booby-Traps, and Other Devices and Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2
Citation 2
– having regard to its most recent resolutions of 22 April 2004 on anti- personnel landmines1 of 7 July 2005 on a mine free world2 , of 19 January 2006 on disability and development3 , and, of 13 December 2007 on the 10th anniversary of the Mine Ban Treaty4 , and of 6 September 2001 on measures to promote a commitment by non-State actors to a total ban on anti-personnel landmines,
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3
Citation 3
– having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1724/2001 of 23 July 2001 concerning action against anti-personnel landmines in developing countries and Council Regulation (EC) No 1725/2001 of 23 July 2001 concerning action against anti-personnel landmines in third countries other than developing countries5 ,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
– having regard to the November 2009Cartagena Action Plan 2010-2014: Ending the Suffering Caused by Anti-personnel Mines adopted at the Second Review Conference of the 1997 Ottawa Convention, which took place in Cartagena, Colombia, from 30 November to 4 December 2009,
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital - A a (new)
Recital - A a (new)
-Aa. whereas the EU has been actively engaged in mine action, especially since its Joint Action of 1995, and is committed to the goal of a total ban and elimination of anti-personnel landmines (APL) worldwide; whereas the EU is a leading supporter of and contributor to mine action, which is among its human rights, humanitarian and development aid priorities,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas ‘“Mine Action’” includes survey, detection, marking and clearance of anti- personnel landmines (APL) and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) - including abandoned ordnance (AO), unexploded ordnance (UXO), cluster munition remnants and victim-activated improvised explosive devices (IEDs), mine - as well as mine and ERW risk education, victim assistance and stockpile destruction, together with advocacy aimed at promoting the universalisation of relevant international conventions and treaties in order to put an end to the production, trade and use of APL,
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas by 1 December 2010, 1156 States have acceded to or ratified the Mine Ban Treaty and another 2 states have signed but not yet ratified it; whereas 96 states are bound by the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices (Amended Protocol II to the CCW) and 69 states are bound by the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V to the CCW); whereas 56 Sstates had formally agreed to be bound byve ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions and another 52 states have signed but not yet ratified it; whereas synergy among these international instruments has to be ensured; whereas two remaining EU Member States are in a process of finalizing their ratification process of the Mine Ban Treaty (by 2012),
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas in 1999 there were an estimated 18,000 casualties from APL/ERW/IED and by 2009 this had reduced to under 4,000the number of reported casualties from APL/ERW/IED has considerably decreased over the past decade (approximately 5,000 in 2009 in comparison to an estimated 18,000 in 1999 according to reports by the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, while 70% of victims were civilians and/or children); whereas, however, millions of people are still affected by ALPs and ERWs all over the world,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas only onetwo governments – Myanmarin Burma/Myanmar and Libya – hasve recently laid APL, no exports or state transfers of APL were recorded, and only three states were thought to be continuing their manufacture,
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas most responsible armed forces long ago ceased using APL, but they havevarious armed non-state actors continued to be a weapon of choice, along with IED, by insurgent and terrorist groups and other non-state actorsuse APL, along with victim- activated IED,
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas, in the first instance, it is the responsibility of affected states to address the problems of APL and ERW on their territory, particularly once conflict has ceased before, during and after a conflict,
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
M a. whereas risk reduction education is a key element in helping people, especially children, in mine affected regions to live more safely and to learn about the dangers of ALP and ERW,
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Strongly welcomes the fact that 156 countries have now acceded tojoined the Mine Ban Treaty including 265 EU member states but regrets that some 379 countries have still not signed; urges all states still outside the Treaty to join in the shortest possible delay; encourages in particular those EU Member States that have yet to accede to the Treaty to complete they ratification process by 2012 as announced;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Supports fully the implementation of the Cartagena Action Plan that provides for a detailed five year plan of commitments in all areas of mine action and calls on the Council to adopt a decision in support of this Plan as soon as possible;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Takes the view that mine action should be closely associated with action against cluster munition and other devices that kill indiscriminately; welcomes therefore the entry into force of the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 1 August 2010 as well as the adoption of the 2010 Vientiane Declaration and the Vientiane Action Plan; commends all states that have signed and ratified the CCM but regrets that 139 countries, including 10 EU Member States, have not adhered so far; calls on the EU and its Member States to promote the universalisation and implementation of the CCM;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2 c. Stresses the need of finding synergy between the various dimensions of mine action, with special regard to humanitarian and development aspects, also by increasing local ownership of and participation in related projects, in order to better respond to the need of the directly affected population;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the fact that a further seven countries announced completion of their clearance activities in 2009 and 2010, bringing the total number of states to do so to 16 but regrets that 26 states needed to request an extension to their clearance deadline under the Mine Ban Treaty;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. IReminds states of their international obligation to destroy APL stockpiles; is concerned that that China and Russia have the largest stockpiles of APL with an estimated 100 million and 24.5 million respectively and underlines therefore the particular importance of both countries' accession to the Mine Ban Treaty;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Calls on the EU to continue promoting the universalisation of the Mine Ban Treaty and other relevant conventions, also by including the issue of mine action in its political dialogue and agreements signed with third countries;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that the widespread and indiscriminate use of APL during more than three decades of conflict has meant that Afghanistan is one of the world'’s most heavily contaminated countries, further afflicted by the use of IEDs by the Taliban and other armed non-state actors; underlines the possible significant contribution by mine action to economic and social development in the country with special regards to rural areas;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Deplores the fact that, despite more than a decade of clearance by the world's largest humanitarian demining programme, Afghanistan still has one of the highest APL casualty rates in the world and expresses grave concern over the high number of children affected by APL and ERW in the country, as of the 508 APL/ERW/IED casualties between 1 March 2009 and 1 March 2010, over half were children;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that some $80 million was donated by the international community for mine action in Afghanistan in 2009 and that since 2002 the European Union's financial and technical assistance amounting to €89 million has helped to clear approximately 240 km² of APL in the country, making land economically accessible, and enabling properties to be reconstructed and families to return home;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. NoteRegrets that, 16 years after the end of conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), there is still a high level of APL/ERW contamination, despite significant international funding and national efforwith about 11.000 minefields and an estimated 220,000 active APLs and ERWs throughout the country representing a serious challenge to security and an impediment to economic and social development;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Applauds EUFOR ALTHEA and its Mines Risk Education Instructors for having provided training to several thousands of people and encourages them to continue their efforts;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Recognises that the lives and livelihoods of APL/ERW/IED casualties are blightmarked for ever, that these innocent victims often come from the poorest elementspeople in some of the poorest countries, and require highly specialised and continuing support and assistance, and that this will be necessary even when there are no further casualties; urges to apply a broad definition of victims in mine action in order to include also indirect victims, such as family and the community;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Stresses relevant obligations of States under international human rights and humanitarian law to adequately provide age- and gender-sensitive assistance, including medical care, rehabilitation and psychological support, as well as to actively support the socio- economic reintegration of APL and ERW victims;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Notes theat - even if advances that have been made in mine detection technology, training and techniques but regrets that- rapid, reliable, cost effective solutions remain elusive and that time-honoured but labour intensive, time consuming, and dangerous techniques using manual probes inevitably remain in widespread useechniques using manual probes inevitably remain in widespread use; acknowledges the important contribution of the UN International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) in enhancing safety and efficiency of mine action by setting standards and providing guidance as well as the role of the UN Mine Action Service in coordinating mine action efforts;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Notes that the most fruitful prospects for technical advances in detection lie in tailor-made methods based on the combination of a number of technologies, and further crossover from technologies to combat the IED threat to military operationsin order to avoid casualties and perform demining with minimal environmental impact;