Strasbourg, 18/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - Adopting a resolution on the European Council of 4 and 5 November, the European Parliament on Wednesday criticised the poor results of the Lisbon Strategy, but welcomed the agreement introducing codecision in legislation on asylum and immigration. On international relations, it hoped that the Union would step up its commitment to the Middle East, Iraq and Sudan.
On the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy, the EP particularly welcomed the invitation of the Kok report for closer Parliamentary involvement in achieving the objectives of the strategy (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.9), which calls for greater emphasis on the environmental dimension of the strategy. It also deplored the fact that investment in research and development remains well below the objective of 3% of GDP.
On The Hague Programme and the area of liberty, security and justice, the Parliament noted with satisfaction that on 1 April 2005 at the latest, qualified majority voting and codecision will apply in this field (with the exception of legal migration: Ed). The Parliament welcomes the greater emphasis on respect for the fundamental rights within the programme, and stresses the need to ensure a correct balance between the demands of the law and the protection of personal data and the fundamental freedoms, and to ensure that these policies on the area of liberty, security and justice have sufficient resources under the forthcoming financial perspectives. Adopting an amendment tabled by British Liberal Democrat Diana Wallis (337 votes in favour, 331 against), the Parliament underlines the importance of "lifting border-related obstacles to civil justice, as access to the legal systems in question is a matter of interest to the citizens in their daily life, and is likely to make a solid contribution to the smooth running of the market", and calls for the option of a European magistracy school to be examined.
On Iraq, the Parliament fully shares the EU's commitment and determination to promote the reconstruction of Iraq and its re-integration into the international community, and supports the idea of sending an integrated EU mission in the fields of police, the rule of law and administration, and the creation of an international commission on missing persons in Iraq.
On the Middle East, the Parliament reaffirms its full support to the legitimate representatives of the Palestinian Authority, and declares its "conviction that the Palestinian Authority will guarantee the normal running of the institutions, organise presidential government and local elections in free and fair conditions". The EP is in favour of EU aid to the Palestinian Authority to hold these elections, and calls upon Israel to "refrain from any interference, and to work to facilitate the elections".
On Sudan, the Parliament calls upon the EU to support the UN commission of inquiry, and upon all sides of the conflict to cooperate with it. It welcomes the European Council's support for the mission of the African Union (AU) to ensure the protection of civilians in Darfur, but stresses the need for the international community to do more, in close collaboration with the AU, to protect the population. The Parliament therefore proposes that the AU, UN and EU together study the possibility of sending observers and creating an "international police force". It also calls upon the UN Security Council to decide on a global embargo on arms sales to Sudan and to implement "targeted sanctions against those responsible for systematic attacks on human rights".
On Iran, the Parliament takes note of the recent announcement by the Iranian authorities that they were to suspend their uranium enrichment programme (EUROPE of 17 November, p.8). However, it voiced its deep concern at the deterioration of the human rights situation in the country.
On Ukraine, it criticised the fact that at the first round of the presidential elections on 31 October, it had failed to respect various international standards for democratic elections, and calls upon the Ukrainian authorities to sort this problem out in time for the second round (see also p.8 of this bulletin). Furthermore, the Parliament adopted by 625 votes in favour, 23 against and 25 abstentions an amendment by the Grazyna Staniszweska (ALDE, Poland), indicating that it "would call upon the Commission and the Council, if Ukraine seriously committed to democracy, to consider partnership and neighbourhood policies in a spirit of openness, given the European aspirations of this country".