Strasbourg, 10/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - As foreseen, the European Parliament meeting in plenary in Strasbourg on Thursday 10 March called on the EU to follow France's example (see related article) and to officially recognise the Interim Transitional National Council representing the Libyan opposition to Colonel Gaddafi's regime. The Benghazi-based Council is headed by the former Libyan minister for justice, Mustafa Abdel Jalil. In a joint resolution from the EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA and ECR groups, adopted by an overwhelming majority (584 votes to 18 and 18 abstentions), MEPs urge EU High Representative Catherine Ashton to “establish relations” with the rebels' representatives in the Interim Transitional National Council in order to “start the process” to have them officially recognised by the EU27.
The Parliament condemned “in the strongest terms the blatant and systematic violations of human rights in Libya” perpetrated by the Libyan Jamahiriya forces, militia and mercenaries, calling on their leader, Colonel Gaddafi, to immediately relinquish power. It also calls on EU member states to “stand ready” for a UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya, to prevent Gaddafi's warplanes from bombing the civilian population or migrants fleeing the growing violence there. MEPs also called for coordinated European action to freeze all Libyan assets and goods held by the Gaddafi family and its known associates in Europe or in European financial institutions operating in tax havens. They welcome the Council decision of 28 February to ban the provision of weapons and munitions to Libya.
Given its concern at the growing humanitarian crisis that has forced over 200,000 migrants to flee Libya, a large number of whom are blocked at the border between Libya and Tunisia or in refugee camps in Tunisia, Egypt and Niger, the Parliament calls on the Council, the European Commission and the high representative to make available all necessary financial and human resources in support of a robust international humanitarian operation. Furthermore, it urges the EU and its member states to provide air and maritime lift to assist with the repatriation or resettlement of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees from Libya, in line with the joint appeal made by the UN Human Rights Council and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The Commission is called upon to ensure that all necessary measures, including adequate financial, human and technical resources, are in place so that the EU can react in an appropriate manner in the event of massive migratory movements, in line with Article 80 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. At the behest of the Italian and Maltese MEPs, and despite some initial reticence on the part of other national delegations, the resolution applies the principle of solidarity and the sharing of responsibilities for border control, as set out in the Treaty of Lisbon.
The Parliament welcomes the recent decision taken by the UN General Assembly to suspend Libya from the Human Rights Council. Finally, it should be noted that, in a separate resolution on the Human Rights Council adopted by show of hands, MEPs condemn the flagrant and systematic violations committed in Libya, pointing out that some may even be crimes against humanity. (E.H./transl.jl)