BETA


2008/2570(RSP) Resolution on (depleted) uranium weapons and their effect on human health and the environment - towards a global ban on the use of such weapons

Progress: Procedure completed

Legal Basis:
RoP 128-p5

Events

2008/06/12
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2008/05/22
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2008/05/22
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

Following the debate which took place during the sitting of 21 May 2008, the European Parliament adopted, by 491 votes to 18 with 12 abstentions, a resolution on (depleted) uranium weapons and their effect on human health and the environment – towards a global ban on the use of such weapons. The resolution had been tabled for consideration in plenary by the PES, ALDE, UEN, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL groups.

It recalls that ever since its use by the allied forces in the first war against Iraq, there have been serious concerns about the radiological and chemical toxicity of the fine uranium particles produced when such weapons impact on hard targets. Concerns have also been expressed about the contamination of soil and groundwater by expended rounds that have missed their targets and their implications for civilian populations. Despite the fact that scientific research has so far been unable to find conclusive evidence of harm, there are numerous testimonies as to the harmful and often deadly effects on both military personnel and civilians. The use of depleted uranium in warfare runs counter to the basic rules enshrined in written and customary international, humanitarian and environmental law.

Parliament urges Member States to adhere to paragraph 1 of UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/62/30, adopted on 5 December 2007, which highlights serious health concerns about the use of depleted uranium weapons, and to submit a report with their views on the effects of the use of armaments and ammunition containing depleted uranium. It recommends that the EU High Representative include in the forthcoming revised version of the European Security Strategy the need to give serious thought to the future utility of unguided munitions, as well as cluster bombs, mines and other weapons of indiscriminate effect, such as depleted uranium weapons.

The Council and the Commission are requested to commission scientific studies into the use of depleted uranium in all regions where European and international military and civilian personnel have been deployed.

Member States are urged, within the framework of future operations, not to use depleted uranium weapons in European Security and Defence Policy operations and not to deploy military and civilian personnel in regions where no guarantee can be given to the effect that depleted uranium has not been, or will not be, used.

Parliament asks Member States, the Council and the Commission :

-to provide full information to their military and civilian personnel on mission, as well as to their professional organisations, about the probability that depleted uranium has been or might be used in their region of operations, and to take sufficient protective measures;

-to establish an environmental inventory of depleted uranium-contaminated areas (including testing ranges) and to provide full support – including financial support – for projects that could assist victims and their relatives as well as for clean-up operations in the affected areas, should a negative effect on human health and the environment be confirmed;

It strongly reiterates its call on all Member States and NATO countries to impose a moratorium on the use of depleted uranium weapons and to redouble efforts towards a global ban, as well as systematically to halt production and procurement of this type of weaponry;

Lastly, Parliament calls on the Member States and the Council to take the lead in working – through the UN or through a 'coalition of the willing' – towards an international treaty establishing a ban on the development, production, stockpiling, transfer, testing and use of uranium weapons as well as the destruction or recycling of existing stocks, should there be conclusive scientific evidence of harm caused by such weapons.

Documents
2008/05/22
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2008/05/21
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2008/05/21
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2008/05/21
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2008/05/21
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2008/05/21
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2008/05/21
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2008/05/21
   Joint motion for resolution
Documents
2008/05/21
   EP - Debate in Parliament
Details

The House held a debate on Oral Questions O-0029/2008 to the Council and O-0030/2008 to the Commission on a global treaty to ban uranium weapons.

A motion for a resolution winding up this debate was due to be put to the vote on 22 May 2008.

2008/05/19
   EP - Oral question/interpellation by Parliament
Documents
2008/05/19
   EP - Oral question/interpellation by Parliament
Documents

Documents

Activities

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

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activities
  • date: 2008-05-21T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20080521&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2008-05-22T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=15120&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-233 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0233/2008 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
commission
  • body: EC dg: External Relations commissioner: FERRERO-WALDNER Benita
committees
    docs
    • date: 2008-05-19T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-153&language=EN title: B6-0153/2008 type: Oral question/interpellation by Parliament body: EP
    • date: 2008-05-19T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-154&language=EN title: B6-0154/2008 type: Oral question/interpellation by Parliament body: EP
    • date: 2008-05-21T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-219&language=EN title: B6-0219/2008 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2008-05-21T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-220&language=EN title: B6-0220/2008 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2008-05-21T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-223&language=EN title: B6-0223/2008 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2008-05-21T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-224&language=EN title: B6-0224/2008 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2008-05-21T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-227&language=EN title: B6-0227/2008 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2008-05-21T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2008-230&language=EN title: B6-0230/2008 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2008-05-21T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=P6-RC-2008-219&language=EN title: RC-B6-0219/2008 type: Joint motion for resolution
    • date: 2008-06-12T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=15120&j=0&l=en title: SP(2008)3593/2 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
    events
    • date: 2008-05-21T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20080521&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament summary: The House held a debate on Oral Questions O-0029/2008 to the Council and O-0030/2008 to the Commission on a global treaty to ban uranium weapons. A motion for a resolution winding up this debate was due to be put to the vote on 22 May 2008.
    • date: 2008-05-22T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=15120&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
    • date: 2008-05-22T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-233 title: T6-0233/2008 summary: Following the debate which took place during the sitting of 21 May 2008, the European Parliament adopted, by 491 votes to 18 with 12 abstentions, a resolution on (depleted) uranium weapons and their effect on human health and the environment – towards a global ban on the use of such weapons. The resolution had been tabled for consideration in plenary by the PES, ALDE, UEN, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL groups. It recalls that ever since its use by the allied forces in the first war against Iraq, there have been serious concerns about the radiological and chemical toxicity of the fine uranium particles produced when such weapons impact on hard targets. Concerns have also been expressed about the contamination of soil and groundwater by expended rounds that have missed their targets and their implications for civilian populations. Despite the fact that scientific research has so far been unable to find conclusive evidence of harm, there are numerous testimonies as to the harmful and often deadly effects on both military personnel and civilians. The use of depleted uranium in warfare runs counter to the basic rules enshrined in written and customary international, humanitarian and environmental law. Parliament urges Member States to adhere to paragraph 1 of UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/62/30, adopted on 5 December 2007, which highlights serious health concerns about the use of depleted uranium weapons, and to submit a report with their views on the effects of the use of armaments and ammunition containing depleted uranium. It recommends that the EU High Representative include in the forthcoming revised version of the European Security Strategy the need to give serious thought to the future utility of unguided munitions, as well as cluster bombs, mines and other weapons of indiscriminate effect, such as depleted uranium weapons. The Council and the Commission are requested to commission scientific studies into the use of depleted uranium in all regions where European and international military and civilian personnel have been deployed. Member States are urged, within the framework of future operations, not to use depleted uranium weapons in European Security and Defence Policy operations and not to deploy military and civilian personnel in regions where no guarantee can be given to the effect that depleted uranium has not been, or will not be, used. Parliament asks Member States, the Council and the Commission : -to provide full information to their military and civilian personnel on mission, as well as to their professional organisations, about the probability that depleted uranium has been or might be used in their region of operations, and to take sufficient protective measures; -to establish an environmental inventory of depleted uranium-contaminated areas (including testing ranges) and to provide full support – including financial support – for projects that could assist victims and their relatives as well as for clean-up operations in the affected areas, should a negative effect on human health and the environment be confirmed; It strongly reiterates its call on all Member States and NATO countries to impose a moratorium on the use of depleted uranium weapons and to redouble efforts towards a global ban, as well as systematically to halt production and procurement of this type of weaponry; Lastly, Parliament calls on the Member States and the Council to take the lead in working – through the UN or through a 'coalition of the willing' – towards an international treaty establishing a ban on the development, production, stockpiling, transfer, testing and use of uranium weapons as well as the destruction or recycling of existing stocks, should there be conclusive scientific evidence of harm caused by such weapons.
    • date: 2008-05-22T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
    links
    other
    • body: EC dg: External Relations commissioner: FERRERO-WALDNER Benita
    procedure/legal_basis/0
    Rules of Procedure EP 128-p5
    procedure/legal_basis/0
    Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 128-p5
    procedure/subject
    Old
    • 6.10.03 Armaments control, non-proliferation nuclear weapons
    New
    6.10.03
    Armaments control, non-proliferation nuclear weapons
    procedure/subtype
    Old
    Debate or resolution on oral questions
    New
    Debate or resolution on oral question/interpellation
    activities
    • date: 2008-05-21T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20080521&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
    • date: 2008-05-22T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=15120&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-233 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0233/2008 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
    committees
      links
      other
      • body: EC dg: External Relations commissioner: FERRERO-WALDNER Benita
      procedure
      reference
      2008/2570(RSP)
      title
      Resolution on (depleted) uranium weapons and their effect on human health and the environment - towards a global ban on the use of such weapons
      legal_basis
      Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 128-p5
      stage_reached
      Procedure completed
      subtype
      Debate or resolution on oral questions
      type
      RSP - Resolutions on topical subjects
      subject
      6.10.03 Armaments control, non-proliferation nuclear weapons