Results of vote in Parliament

Following the debate which took place during the sitting of 7 June 2011, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Sudan and South Sudan: the situation after the 2011 referendum.

The resolution was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ALDE, ECR and Greens/EFA groups.

It welcomes the peaceful and credible conduct of both Sudan and South Sudan in the Southern Sudan Referendum which took place on 9-15 January 2011, with an overwhelming majority voting to establish an independent state of South Sudan. It also welcomes the commitment made by all parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) as this is a crucial step in implementing the CPA and as a positive sign for the peaceful coexistence of both countries.

Members reiterate their full respect for the outcome of the referendum as the expression of the democratic will of the people of South Sudan, and call on the South Sudan authorities to promote the development of South Sudan as a modern, pluralistic, democratic state based on the rule of law and respecting human rights.

They note that the status of disputed areas remains unsettled, and the situation in Abyei is worsening, causing the death of hundreds of people and the exodus of thousands, and leaving people vulnerable to food insecurity, disease and lack of access to basic services such as health care and drinking water. Parliament strongly condemns the deliberate attack on the UN Mission to Sudan (UNMIS) on 10 May 2011 in the Abyei area and denounces the militarisation of that area by both North and South Sudan. It calls for both Sudanese and South Sudanese armed forces to withdraw from Abyei and for both sides to show restraint by engaging in an immediate constructive dialogue for a peaceful solution on the status of Abyei within the framework of the CPA. All parties to the CPA are urged to engage in a continued and constructive dialogue to address post-referendum issues including common borders, citizenship arrangements for citizens both north and south, the sharing of oil revenues and use of pipelines, and the holding of popular consultations in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan. The EU delegations in Sudan and South Sudan must proactively circulate and implement the recommendations of the recent EU election and referendum observation missions.

Members welcome the Council's announcement of 17 May 2011 that EUR 200 million would be allocated to South Sudan in addition to the EUR 150 million allocated last year to assist the most vulnerable populations throughout Sudan. They point out that EU development aid is at the ready to assist both sides. The new money should be used to support basic services, notably education and health, agriculture, food security and institutional capacity-building. Parliament calls for the accession of South Sudan to the Cotonou Agreement as a matter of urgency and for the EU to take all steps necessary to ensure that funding from the European Development Fund becomes available as soon as possible. Furthermore, the EU must play a leading role at the South Sudan Pledging Conference later in 2011 and actively encourage other donors to do the same.

Parliament calls on the Government of South Sudan to:

enact policies on foreign investment in the interest of the population, so that foreign investment in natural resources benefits the development of the domestic economy in order to combat poverty. The EU must do all it can to ensure that multinational entities and foreign enterprises operating in the region are sufficiently regulated and that they transparently declare their activities and revenues; adopt a transparent, accountable and inclusive approach to governance through the constitutional review process.

Parliament goes on to welcome the UN Security Council decision to extend the mandate of UNMIS and to send additional peacekeeping forces to Sudan. It also stresses the importance of the EU maintaining its humanitarian aid for Sudan and South Sudan after 9 July 2011.

Lastly, Members note that the situation in Darfur remains a great source of concern and the UN Mission in Darfur recently reported bombardments by the Government, and the taking hostage of several aid workers in the region. They welcome the conclusions of the UN-backed consultations on the Darfur peace process, and call on all parties to abide by the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities agreements already signed. Parliament stresses the importance of full transparency during negotiations on the Darfur and Abyei issues and calls for the representation of all parties to the disputes, as well as civil society and political leaders at local, regional, national and international levels.

T7-0267/2011

Debate in Parliament

B7-0349/2011

B7-0350/2011

B7-0352/2011

B7-0354/2011

B7-0355/2011

B7-0356/2011

RC-B7-0349/2011