The European Parliament adopted by 74 votes to 3 with 2 abstentions a resolution on Burma.

The resolution had been tabled by the PES, Greens/ALE, EPP-ED, ALDE, UEN and GUE/NGL groups.

Noting that the people of Burma are subject to human rights abuses, including forced labour, persecution of dissidents, conscription of child soldiers, rape and pillage by government troops, and forced relocation, Parliament calls on the UN Security Council to address the situation in Burma as a matter of urgency, and to take the necessary measures to impose economic sanctions against Burma in an effort to force change. It must empower the UN Secretary-General to mediate in Burma in order to bring about national reconciliation and a transition to democracy. Parliament condemns the total disregard of the military dictatorship for the welfare of the people of Burma, and condemns the Burmese military's brutal campaign involving forcible relocations against several major ethnic groups fighting for autonomy.

With regard to EU action, Parliament insists that the EU's Common Policy on Burma be strengthened immediately by:

officially stating that the EU will not accept any outcome of the military's National Convention (to be convened in December 2005) unless the minimum conditions laid down at the Sixth ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting are met, due democratic process is guaranteed and the NLD and other representative pro-democracy parties are free and able to attend; encouraging a blanket prohibition in Council Regulation (EC) No 1853/2004 concerning additional restrictive measures in respect of Burma/Myanmar and amending Regulation (EC) No 798/2004 on EU-registered companies making new investments or extending loans to all Burmese state-owned enterprises.

The resolution demands the immediate release and full freedom of movement and expression for Aung San Suu Kyi, Hkun Htun Oo, General Hso Hten, other political leaders and all political prisoners held by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), and it insists that the SPDC immediately initiate a meaningful dialogue with the NLD and ethnic groups to bring about a return to democracy and respect for human rights, including ethnic minority rights and state rights in Burma. Parliament calls for a high-ranking EU envoy to be appointed to work towards securing the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, and other political leaders, to develop a comprehensive EU strategy on Burma enabling humanitarian aid to be delivered to the people of Burma from within Burma and through cross-border strategies, and to bring about a transition to democracy and respect for human rights. It also calls on the EU to endorse the report commissioned by former President of the Czech Republic Václav Havel and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 'Threat to the Peace - A Call for the UN Security Council to Act in Burma', which clearly demonstrates the need for UN Security Council action.

Lastly, Parliament urges all members of the ILO within the EU seriously to review their relations, under Article 33 of the ILO Constitution, with Burma, as called for by the ILO, in view of Burma’s continuing large-scale use of forced labour.