SP(2008)2060

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted, by 506 votes in favour to 25 against with 26 abstentions, a resolution on the European Union’s role in Iraq.

The own-initiative report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Ana Maria GOMES (PES, PT), on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

In the resolution, Parliament addresses a series of recommendations to the Council aimed at reinforcing the role of the EU in Iraq. It requests, in particular, the launch of a new strategy that will step up the quantity, but especially the quality , of EU support for UN efforts to build a safe, stable, unified, prosperous, federal and democratic Iraq.

The Council was asked to focus EU aid in Iraq on relevant technical assistance and capacity-building in the fields of the rule of law, justice, human rights, good governance, financial and budget management, gender equality, health and education, and on the strengthening of federal, regional and local government institutions.

Parliament asks the Council to ensure the transparency and efficiency of EU assistance for Iraq by: (i) providing complete, regular and transparent information on the actual disbursement and implementation of EU assistance, especially the funds being channelled through the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) (ii) operating directly on the ground if and where the security situation permits, namely in the Southern Marshlands, with its particularly neglected population, and the Kurdish region; (iii) increasing the proportion of EU funding for bilateral technical assistance and capacity building, and improving direct EC control of funding; (iv) switching the main focus of EU support to bilateral projects focussed on technical assistance and capacity-building in the fields of the rule of law, financial management, democratic governance and human rights; (v) ensure that EU financial projects do not duplicate those already undertaken by other international donors; (iii) ensure that substantial EU assistance is provided to improve the management of public finances and budgetary control so that the Iraqi government is able to better disburse the substantial and increasing public funds now available to it.

To improve the overall strategy for Iraq, MEPs propose a series of measures including those aiming to:

-increase support to the rule of law and the Iraqi justice system;

-strengthen the Iraqi police and legal system by using the provisions of the ESDP and other EU instruments;

-assist in the organisation of free and fair elections;

-support the process of reconciliation in the region of Kirkuk and the Assyrian regions to ensure dialogue with local Christian communities;

-support the development of federal, regional and local democratic institutions, focusing on the Iraqi Council of Representatives;

-focus DCI funding for Iraq on the Millennium Development Goals;

-encourage European NGOs active in Iraq to use the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights by providing financial assistance to the organisations of civil society: action that could be taken in this field could focus on: (i) gender equality; (ii) combating violence towards women; (iii) improving the rights of minorities (Assyrians - Chaldeans, Syriacs and other Christian communities, the Yazidi and the Turkmen); (iv) improving the rights of the child; (v) combating torture and abolishing the death penalty;

-assist, as a priority, women without financial means who are the head of the family;

-strengthen the capacity of the Iraqi authorities to carry out effective border controls;

-provide administrative and technical support in order to help the Iraqi government apply its programme of micro-credits.

Measures have also been called for to help Iraqi refugees from Jordan, Syria and other countries. In particular, MEPs call for the EU to provide specific aid to NGOs which work towards helping Iraqi refugees of the bordering countries (including the 4 000 Assyrian families who have sought refuge in the plains of Nineveh). In addition, Parliament asks the Council to improve the possibilities for Iraqi refugees to find refuge in EU Member States through resettlement programmes agreed with the UNHCR (25 000 cases) or through individual asylum requests, end the current arbitrary criteria for the granting of protection and prevent any forced return to any part of Iraq. It also asks the Council urgently to address the plight of Palestinian refugees stranded in the border region between Iraq and Syria.

The Council is asked to encourage European firms to invest in the reconstruction of Iraq, and encouraging the Iraqi government to use the revenue from the sale of petroleum in such a way as to ensure that it is reinvested in Iraq and that it is managed by public procurement bodies under the final authority of the Iraqi government. Parliament felt that this approach must be an essential precondition of EU support for the reconstruction and development of the Iraqi economy.

In terms of security, MEPs call on the Multi-National Force in Iraq (MNF-I) to respond to the situation of the 24 000 people it currently detains in order to ensure respect for due process and their basic human rights. Moreover, Parliament calls for dialogue with the United States to seek enhanced multilateralisation of the role played by the international community in the country, by using the UN framework.

At international level, measures are also called for to strengthen the relations between Iraq and its neighbours, including Turkey, which is called upon to respect the territorial integrity of Iraq and to not react to the terrorist activities by initiating military action in Iraq (while calling on Iraqi authorities to ensure that the country is not used as a base for terrorism). Parliament believes that it is also necessary to make the EU Code of Conduct on the export of arms legally binding and to put a stop to the illegal inflow of light weapons in Iraq.

Lastly, Parliament stresses its commitment to support the Iraqi Council of Representatives by offering it specific assistance aimed at strengthening its powers and providing expertise on drafting legislation.

T6-0100/2008

Debate in Parliament

A6-0052/2008

A6-0052/2008

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted an own-initiative report by Ana Maria GOMES (PES, PT), addressing a series of recommendations to the Council aimed at reinforcing the role of the EU in Iraq. The Committee requests, in particular, the launch of a new strategy that will step up the quantity , but especially the quality , of EU support for UN efforts to build a safe, stable, unified, prosperous and democratic Iraq.

According to MEPs, EU aid provided to Iraq must be directed towards strengthening democracy at all levels of authority and capacity building in the fields of the rule of law, justice, human rights, good governance, financial and budgetary management, gender equality, health and education.

In particular, MEPs call for increased EU funding for bilateral technical assistance but especially for greater transparency and effectiveness of EU aid. Therefore, MEPs ask that measures be taken to: (i) improve information on the actual disbursement and implementation of EU assistance as well as on the channelling of funds through the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq; (ii) ensure that EU financial projects do not duplicate those already undertaken by other international donors; (iii) ensure that substantial EU assistance is provided to improve the management of public finances and budgetary control so that the Iraqi government is able to better disburse the bulk of public funds already at its disposal.

To improve the overall strategy for Iraq , MEPs propose a series of measures including those aiming to:

Increase support to the rule of law and the Iraqi justice system; Strengthen the Iraqi police and legal system by using the provisions of the ESDP and other EU instruments; Assist in the organisation of free and fair elections; Support the process of reconciliation in the region of Kirkuk and the Assyrian regions to ensure dialogue with local Christian communities; Support the development of federal, regional and local democratic institutions, focusing on the Iraqi Council of Representatives; Focus DCI (Development and Cooperation Instrument) funding for Iraq on the Millennium Development Goals (in particular, universal access to essential public health care, improving education, especially for girls, re-establishing the environmental and social system of the marshlands in the south and protecting the heritage of the Marsh Arabs); Encourage European NGOs active in Iraq to use the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights by providing financial assistance to the organisations of civil society: action that could be taken in this field could focus on: (i) gender equality; (ii) combating violence towards women; (iii) improving the rights of minorities (Assyrians - Chaldeans, Syriacs and other Christian communities, the Yazidi and the Turkmen); (iv) improving the rights of the child; (v) combating torture and abolishing the death penalty; Assist, as a priority, women without financial means who are the head of the family; Strengthen the capacity of the Iraqi authorities to carry out effective border controls; Provide administrative and technical support in order to help the Iraqi government apply its programme of microcredits.

Measures have also been called for to help Iraqi refugees from Jordan, Syria and other countries. In particular, MEPs call for the EU to provide specific aid to NGOs which work towards helping Iraqi refugees of the bordering countries (including the 4 000 Assyrian families who have sought refuge in the plains of Nineveh). In addition, MEPs call on the Council to “give Iraqi refugees more opportunities to seek refuge in EU Member States and to put an end to the current lottery system for granting protection”. Moreover, they request that urgent action be taken to ensure the safety of Palestinian refugees on the border between Iraq and Syria.

Other more symbolic measures have been called for by MEPs, such as the implementation of measures to recuperate the antiques stolen from the National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad or the granting of Observer Status to Iraq at the WTO. In addition, MEPs call for measures to be taken to increase European investment in Iraq and to ensure that Iraqi oil revenue is reinvested in Iraq.

In terms of security , MEPs call on the Multi-National Force in Iraq (MNF-I) to respond to the situation of the 24 000 people it currently detains in order to ensure they receive a fair trial. Moreover, MEPs call for dialogue with the United States to search for a more multilateral role for the international community in Iraq, under the leadership of the UN .

MEPs also request that information on the identity of military and private security firms ensuring the protection of EU personnel in Iraq be revealed. In particular, MEPs request clear guidelines on the use of these types of company by the EU institutions.

At international level , measures are also called for to strengthen the relations between Iraq and its neighbours, including Turkey. This country is therefore called upon by MEPs to respect the territorial integrity of Iraq and to not react to the terrorist activities by initiating military action in Iraq (while calling on Iraqi authorities to ensure that the country is not used as a base for terrorism). MEPs believe that it is also necessary to make the EU Code of Conduct on the export of arms legally binding and to put a stop to the illegal inflow of light weapons in Iraq. They therefore call on the Council to assist Iraq in ensuring its security by improving the supervision and destruction (by Althea of EUFOR) of stocks of weapons in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Lastly, MEPs stress the Parliament’s commitment to support the Iraqi Council of Representatives by offering it specific assistance aimed at strengthening its powers and providing expertise on drafting legislation.

PE398.388

PE400.385

PE394.095

Pursuant to Rule 114(1) of the Rules of Procedure, Ana Maria Gomes (PES, PT), on behalf of the PES Group, has drafted a proposal for a recommendation on the role of the European Union in Iraq.

Bearing in mind that the role of Iraq is vital to the stability of the whole region and of the Middle East at large and that all the political players from every community need to be included in the quest to bring peace to this region, the recommendation invites the Council to:

maintain the European Union's contribution to the creation of a unified, stable, democratic, secular state respectful of religious freedoms; step up efforts to bring the different communities closer together, particularly in the fields of constitutional reform and power sharing; develop, in close partnership with the UN, the other international players and the Iraqi authorities, a cohesive long-term plan for reform of the security sector based on the principle of democratic responsibility of the armed forces and placing the emphasis on demobilisation of the militias; help Iraq to take advantage of its mineral resources; carry out an independent 'audit' of the utilisation of European funding channelled via the UN and the World Bank.

The recommendation recalls that there has been violence within and between its communities and it insists on the fact that no military solution is possible, and even less so one imposed by foreign forces .

The text underlines the need to create a national force for maintaining order that brings together all the communities and that it is necessary to continue to relieve the misfortunes of the Iraqi civilian population, and especially those who are displaced or refugees in neighbouring countries.

Lastly, the recommendation recalls that between 2003 and 2006 the European Union granted Iraq EUR 718.5 million in aid and that European Union funding has been channelled, without any real European oversight, essentially via the UN and the World Bank, into the 'International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq'.

B6-0328/2007

Pursuant to Rule 114(1) of the Rules of Procedure, Ana Maria Gomes (PES, PT), on behalf of the PES Group, has drafted a proposal for a recommendation on the role of the European Union in Iraq.

Bearing in mind that the role of Iraq is vital to the stability of the whole region and of the Middle East at large and that all the political players from every community need to be included in the quest to bring peace to this region, the recommendation invites the Council to:

maintain the European Union's contribution to the creation of a unified, stable, democratic, secular state respectful of religious freedoms; step up efforts to bring the different communities closer together, particularly in the fields of constitutional reform and power sharing; develop, in close partnership with the UN, the other international players and the Iraqi authorities, a cohesive long-term plan for reform of the security sector based on the principle of democratic responsibility of the armed forces and placing the emphasis on demobilisation of the militias; help Iraq to take advantage of its mineral resources; carry out an independent 'audit' of the utilisation of European funding channelled via the UN and the World Bank.

The recommendation recalls that there has been violence within and between its communities and it insists on the fact that no military solution is possible, and even less so one imposed by foreign forces .

The text underlines the need to create a national force for maintaining order that brings together all the communities and that it is necessary to continue to relieve the misfortunes of the Iraqi civilian population, and especially those who are displaced or refugees in neighbouring countries.

Lastly, the recommendation recalls that between 2003 and 2006 the European Union granted Iraq EUR 718.5 million in aid and that European Union funding has been channelled, without any real European oversight, essentially via the UN and the World Bank, into the 'International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq'.

B6-0328/2007