B3-1248, 1331, 1337, 1340 and 1342/93

Resolution on the Middle East peace process

The European Parliament,

A.mindful of the historic agreement concluded between the Israeli Government and the representatives of the Palestinian people on the implementation of a peace plan for the Middle East, including the mutual recognition of Israel and the PLO and self-rule for the Gaza strip and Jericho,

1.Welcomes this peace agreement as a major victory for all those who have had the courage to choose the path of moderation and dialogue and as a decisive step towards a permanent solution of the Middle East problem; reaffirms its complete solidarity with all the democratic forces in Israel and among the Palestinian people;

2.Takes the view that the implementation of this agreement may open the way to the establishment of a lasting peace between Israel and all its Arab neighbours;

3.Pays tribute to the positive role played by Norway in bringing the negotiations to a successful conclusion;

4.Hopes that a genuine international economic and social aid plan will be drawn up to help the Occupied Territories and that the Commission will make a determined contribution thereto;

5.Welcomes, in that connection, the Community's decision to implement a five-year programme to assist the region with a budget of ECU 500m; calls, however, for additional efforts to be made by the Community and its Member States and for the Community budget to be adjusted accordingly;

6.Welcomes the Commission action plan on the future of relations and cooperation between the Community and the Middle East;

7.Underlines the importance of the Euro-Arab dialogue and stresses the need to interest Arab capital in the economic and social aid plan;

8.Calls on the international community to use all the means available to encourage the conclusion of the peace process, in particular by recognizing the two parties involved, and to support the process with a view to securing the full application of the UN Security Council resolutions;

9.Instructs its President to invite the signatories to these agreements to the next part-session.

10.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of European countries, the Israeli Government and the PLO.