A3-0105/94

Resolution on the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr. Goria on the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (B3-0759/89),

-having regard to its resolution of 9 October 1990 on the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki II Conference),

-having regard to its resolution of 11 July 1991 on the CSCE,

-having regard to its resolution of 20 January 1993 on the structure and strategy for the European Union with regard to its enlargement and the creation of a Europe wide order,

-having regard to its resolution of 27 May 1993 on development in East-West relations in Europe and their impact on European security,

-having regard to the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, the Paris Charter for a New Europe of 1990 and all subsequent CSCE summit declarations,

-having regard to the proposals in the "Agenda for Peace" as set out by the UN Secretary General,

-having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security (A3-0105/94),

A.whereas, with the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union, the CSCE became an object of joint actions in the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy,

B.whereas the European Council in Brussels of 29 October 1993 (SN 288/93) called on the Council to define the conditions and procedures for joint action aimed at the promotion of stability and peace in Europe including a stability pact to resolve the problem of minorities and to strengthen the inviolability of frontiers,

C.whereas the WEU Council of Ministers of 19 May 1993 stressed the importance of developing cooperation within the CSCE in order to support the effective implementation of conflict prevention and crisis management measures including peacekeeping activities,

D.whereas the NATO Council Declaration of 11 January 1994 calls for a further strengthening of the CSCE as an instrument of preventive diplomacy, conflict prevention, cooperative security and the advancement of democracy and human rights,

E.whereas NATO's "partnership for Peace" initiative expresses a common commitment to the Helsinki Final Act and all subsequent CSCE documents and calls on all states subscribing to this initiative to contribute to operations under the authority of the UN and/or the responsibility of the CSCE,

1.Emphasizes the important role the CSCE has played and still plays in establishing rules to prevent conflicts, to improve relations and to enhance cooperation between its Member States;

2.Welcomes the strengthening of the CSCE structures, namely the creation of the Forum for Security Cooperation, the establishment of the CSCE Secretariat and the Permanent Committee in Vienna, the appointment of a Secretary General and the appointment of a High Commissioner on National Minorities;

3.Calls on the European Union and its Member States to make every effort to ensure that the powers of the High Commissioner for National Minorities are consolidated and that the staff and funding available are increased;

4.Calls on the European Union and its Member States to instigate discussions within the CSCE on the possibility of setting up a High Commission for Human Rights - for the CSCE Member States only - which could be given even wider powers and responsibilities than those exercised by the UN Commission on Human Rights at world level;

5.Deeply regrets the fact that the capabilities of the CSCE in conflict settlement and crisis management are still unsatisfactory, mainly due to its complicated crisis mechanisms, the consensus rule and a lack of financial and operational resources;

6.Calls on the CSCE to step up and improve its activities aimed at the organization of free and fair elections in all its Member States;

7.Deeply regrets the fact that the European Parliament has not been admitted as a full participant in the CSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and suggests that the newly elected European Parliament engage in a dialogue with the competent authorities in order to review this situation;

8.Believes that the European Union as such, in addition to its Member states, should become a participant in the CSCE, and be the spokesman for the Member States on those matters for which powers are transferred to it;

9.Calls on the European Union to make proposals with a view to establishing improved arrangements for consultations and for the sharing of tasks, roles and responsibilities between the UN, CSCE, NATO, WEU and the European Union itself, as a joint effort to contribute to economic, political and military stability in Europe and in order to avoid duplications, waste of resources and possible conflict;

10.Calls upon the European Union and its Member States to contribute to the further strengthening of the CSCE as a pan-European and transatlantic forum for cooperative security and as an appropriate instrument for conflict prevention and crisis management mandated by the United Nations pursuant to Chapter VIII of the UN Charter;

11.Hopes that, among its various spheres of cooperation, the CSCE will make a special effort to step up cooperation on safeguarding and improving the environment;

12.Calls upon the European Union and its Member States to actively support the efforts to enhance the operational capabilities of the CSCE for early warning, conflict prevention and crisis management;

13.Calls on the European Union and its Member States to contribute towards training specialist staff for the monitoring, mediation, prevention and settlement of conflicts, possibly by cooperating with other CSCE states already active in this field;

14.Believes that the CSCE is the ideal framework for the conclusion and implementation of a stability pact in Europe and for the development of political and diplomatic measures aimed at conflict prevention, conciliation and the curtailing and settlement of conflicts; calls accordingly on the European Union and its Member States to coordinate their joint action closely and consult the European Parliament with that in view;

15.Calls for the presentation to the European Parliament of a comprehensive European Union proposal, which would further define and elaborate a set of basic principles for conflict prevention and crisis management, and which would also take into account further regional stability proposals, including the development of a Balkan cooperation plan, as well as cooperation of the Baltic states;

16.Welcomes the decisions by the CSCE Council in Rome on 1 December 1993 and calls for their early implementation;

17.Underlines the importance of continued CSCE focus on former Yugoslavia and mandated continued monitoring of compliance with CSCE norms and principles, promotion of respect for human rights and protection of national minorities;

18.Believes that, following the successive enlargement of the CSCE, further development of the CSCE Paris Charter is particularly necessary in order to harmonize, with due regard to UN resolutions, the principle of non-interference and respect for territorial integrity with the principle of respect of human rights, including minority rights, bearing also in mind the dangers arising from the rise of nationalisms;

19.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Parliaments of the Member States and the Secretaries- General of the CSCE, NATO, the UN and the WEU.