Brussels, 10/03/2005 (Agence Europe) - Thursday's adoption of a resolution by the EPP, PES, ALDE, Greens/EFA and UEN groups (474 votes for, 8 against, 33 abstentions), means that the EP is calling for the total withdrawal of Syrian troops and intelligence services from the Lebanon. The resolution explained that the signing of an EU/Syria association agreement and the “development of European neighbourhood policy to this country would depend on the firm commitment of Syria to this end”. The EP is also calling on the Council to take measures for putting an end to terrorist activities by Hezbollah and for the Commission to “put the final touches to the action plan for the Lebanon” within the framework of the neighbourhood policy.
During the debate, most MEPs, like José Salafranca (Partido popular, Spain) appealed for a free and sovereign Lebanon. Pasqualina Napoletano (PES, Italy) said that election in May had to be transparent, with the participation of European observers. She pointed out that the policy of the “outstretched hand” from the Union to Damascus meant Syria contributing to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Philippe Morillion (ALDE, France) called for the freedom to live and think freely in Lebanon and was concerned at some of the discordant declarations from the Head of Hezbollah, who reaffirmed his opposition to peace negotiations between Israel and Palestinians. Morillion said that if it persisted with this position, the EU may have to go as far as including this movement on the list of terrorist organisations. Like other MEPs Morillion said that he felt absolutely no affinity to this organisation. Miguel Portas (GUE, Portugal) said that “demonising” the organisation would not help the Lebanon. Belgian Socialist Véronique De Keyser said that the Syrians should withdraw from the Lebanon but Israel also had to withdraw from the Golan Heights. She did, however, point out a positive development: that the Lebanese opposition had never been so united and the European Parliament should also use the next few weeks for getting to know the opposition better. Athanasios Pafilis (Greek Communist) said that he had the impression that he had just hear Condoleezza Rice speaking. He denounced the hypocrisy of some Europeans who asked “whey aren't we asking for the Turks to withdraw from Cyprus?” Giorgios Dimitriakopoulos (New Democracy) aid that they had asked for them to do so and that they also had to continue to do so but that they also had to fight resolutely against Hezbollah. Pierre Moscovici (French Socialist) agreed but said that that above all the Lebanese government had to be chosen freely. He added that “my road map is Resolution 1559 without any watering down”. Marine Le Pen (Front national) said that the moment had come for a complete withdrawal. Paul-Marie Couteaux (Ind/Dem, France) also pointed to the Iranian connection, as well as the US connection. Austrian Social Democrat Hannes Swoboda introduced another element into the debate: Hezbollah had in fact contributed to Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon and if it was really prepared to contribute as a political force to the stability and independence of this country it had to have a role in this process, as well as Syria, which also had the right to stability, he added, and integrity. French Socialist Béatrice Patrie welcomed the mass mobilisation and “patriot fervour” of the Lebanese and said they should not be left on their own. The desire of the whole region for peace should not be ignored, she added. Gitte Seeberg (EPP, ED Denmark) said that the EU and US should be in a common front and show that in this case good Euro-Atlantic relations was sensible. Strong feelings of friendship for the Lebanese were expressed in this debate. President of the Council, Nicolas Schmit affirmed that the Lebanon should not be manipulated by those who wanted to derail the peace process in the Middle East. The Luxembourg minister for European affairs said that this obvious applied to Hezbollah, which had to decide if it wanted to participate in the democratic life of the country or if it was at the service of foreign powers who did not want peace.