Brussels, 30/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - By adopting a resolution on Thursday on the illegal exploitation of the riches of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), tabled by the EPP-ED, PES, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL groups, the European Parliament urges Member States of the European Union, and especially the Belgian, German, French and British governments, to initiate proceedings against people identified in the United Nations report for their involvement in pillaging the DRC. It calls on the United Nations Security Council, in compliance with the recommendations off its rapporteurs, to inflict sanctions (limitation of movement, freeze on assets and banking ban) against people or companies whose participation in the pillaging of the DRC has been proven. The Commission should propose a binding legal framework to the Council regarding the responsibility of private European firms operating in third countries in view of combating the illegal exploitation of these countries' resources, the resolution states. According to the EP, people incriminated for pillaging resources in the DRC must be stripped of their rights in the period of transition to democracy, and the EU Council must put pressure, in the framework of the Cotonou Agreement, on African transit countries in view of discouraging the pillaging. The EP is in favour of the creation within UNMOC of a control and monitoring mechanism of the illegal exploitation of the DRC's natural resources, including in territories controlled by the rebellion and for an embargo on arms and munitions exports to countries involved in the Congolese conflict.