Strasbourg, 07/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution welcoming the 25 June referendum in Mauritania, describing it as a decisive step in the democratic process (see EUROPE 9223). Noting that the Military Council for Justice and Democracy has expressed desire to end the former regime's totalitarian practices and restore democracy, the EP notes that Mauritania will now be fully cooperating under the Cotonou Accord, and that a timetable for general, municipal and presidential elections has been established along with the creation of a huge number of political parties and the transition authorities' agreement in principle to allow the return of refugees. But the EP notes that very few refugees have returned because of lack of money and the fact they cannot prove their nationality and therefore urges the transition authorities to seriously consider opening voting booths for Mauritanians in embassies abroad and refugee camps in Mali and Senegal. The EP welcomes the Mauritanian authorities' desire to cooperate to combat illegal immigration and the signing of agreements like Atlantis (joint Spanish and Mauritanian patrols monitoring the Mauritanian coastline) and calls for a rapid conclusion of a new EU-Mauritania fishing agreement (the current agreement expires at the end of the month). The Mauritanian authorities are urged to make use of their new oil resources to meet the needs of local people.