On Thursday 25 November, MEPs called for action against private military and security companies (PMSCs) that violate human rights.
The joint resolution of the Greens/EFA, S&D, EPP, Renew Europe and ECR groups, which was adopted (585 votes in favour, 40 against and 43 abstentions), focusses on the Wagner Group (see EUROPE 12833/31).
MEPs condemn “in the strongest possible terms” the “heinous” crimes committed by Wagner and related private military entities in various conflict zones, highlighting the Group’s “appalling” human rights record.
The European Parliament calls on all states using the Wagner Group and related entities, in particular the Central African Republic, to sever all ties, and urges Mali to abandon its plans to use private military companies. MEPs even demand that countries in which the EU conducts missions and operations under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) in support of state capacity building terminate their contracts with PMSCs that violate human rights.
MEPs also call on the European Commission to critically review the EU’s support for governments and state institutions linked to the Wagner Group.
In their view, the early establishment of the European Peace Facility would consolidate the EU’s influence in building the capacity of partner countries’ armed forces, and ensure that partner countries do not use PMSCs that do not share EU values.
Welcoming the High Representative’s announcement of the forthcoming adoption of sanctions against the Wagner Group, the European Parliament urged the EU to prepare and adopt restrictive measures against other PMSCs that violate human rights.
See the resolution: https://bit.ly/3cLw5HF (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)