The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolutions of 9 October 1990 on the CSCE, of 17 May 1991 on the role of Europe in relation to security in the Mediterranean, of 10 June 1991 on the outlook for a European security policy and its resolutions on the Intergovernmental Conference on Political Union,

A. having regard to the decisions of the CSCE Summit in Paris, the Paris Charter for a new Europe of 21 November 1990 and the conclusions of the CSCE Ministerial Meeting of 9 June 1991 in Berlin,

B. having regard to the conclusions of the Rome and Luxembourg European Councils regarding a foreign and security policy, and the European Council's statements on the subject of CSCE,

C. whereas the Gulf War and the recent developments in the situation in Yugoslavia have once again highlighted the need for the EC to have a common foreign and security policy,

D. reiterating the importance of the CSCE process for the establishment of a lasting order of peace and cooperation in Europe based on democracy, freedom and respect for human rights and the rights of minorities, and the decisive role it will play in the future shape of Europe,

E. underlining the importance of the joint presence of the three Community institutions at the CSCE summit in Paris and the recent meeting of the CSCE Foreign Ministers in Berlin,

1. Reiterates its support for the peace, common security, and international cooperation process finding expression through the CSCE;

2. Affirms that the European Community must act as a driving force within the CSCE, and that it is essential for the Community to have a genuine common foreign and security policy;

3. Recalls its position on the need for permanent joint representation of the three Community institutions within the CSCE institutions and process;

4. Calls on the Council, in collaboration with the President of the European Parliament and the national parliaments, to support and promote full representative participation by the European Parliament in the CSCE Parliamentary Assembly;

5. Hopes that European Political Cooperation will endeavour to take the initiative itself and perform a coordinating role so that the Member States of the Community work within the CSCE, in particular to ensure that the CSCE makes a valid contribution to the objective of an overall and balanced policy of disarmament and the peaceful settlement of conflicts based on the abandonment of the 'bloc' mentality, substantial reduction in armed forces and the limitation of arms exports, in accordance with the commitments made at the last CSCE meeting;

6. Calls on the Council to support the Instrument for forecasting and peaceful settlement of conflicts, and to take steps to ensure that the Community institutions meet and deliberate whenever the direct interests of the Community are at stake - as in the case of the current crisis in Yugoslavia;

7. Calls for the role of the Community and of Parliament within the CSCE to form the subject of a clear statement of position by the Foreign Ministers meeting in EPC, with a view to the definition of a common foreign and security policy by the Intergovernmental Conference;

8. Calls on the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political Cooperation formally to present their conclusions on this resolution;

9. Asks the Council and European Political Cooperation to keep the European Parliament informed of the activities and development of the CSCE;

10. Points to the urgent need for the common foreign and security policy to be encompassed fully within the Community's powers and responsibilities and calls on the Intergovernmental Conference on Political Union to frame a draft treaty establishing the Political Union and making the necessary amendment to the EC Treaty, taking as its basis the proposals drawn up by the European Parliament;

11. Reiterates its support for the holding of a conference in the Mediterranean region as a means of promoting stability, peace, cooperation and the prevention of conflict in this area;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, EPC and the member states of the CSCE.