On Thursday 15 September, the European Parliament hoped that the European Commission and Council would consider re-imposing a number of restrictive measures on the regime in Zimbabwe, while noting that the measures will be scrapped and an aid programme available once the country is clearly on the road to democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights.
By show of hands, the MEPs adopted a common resolution from the EFDD, ECR, EPP, ALDE, Greens, S&D and ENF groups saying that the lifting of most of the restrictions in 2014 was premature.
In the resolution, the Parliament also expresses deep concern at the growing levels of violence among demonstrators, and an increase in the numbers of arbitrary arrests of human rights activists. The MEPs urge the country’s authorities to liberate all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, and not interfere in the prerogatives of judicial power. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)