Motion for a resolution by Mr Melandri and Mr Taradash on behalf of the Greens in the European Parliament

The European Parliament,

A. having regard to the destabilizing effect on the government of Colombia caused by the drug-trafficking organizations,

B. whereas over 150 magistrates, 20 journalists, 1 500 police officers, 3 500 members of the anti-drugs squad and 100 politicians, including recently the Liberal presidential candidate, Luis Carlos Galan, have been murdered by Colombian drug-traffickers since 1982,

C. whereas the prohibitionist policies implemented until now have utterly failed to achieve the aim of curbing the distribution of certain drugs,

D. whereas this prohibitionist strategy has resulted in the creation of an enormous black market, whose annual profits are estimated at 500 billion dollars, and in the formation of criminal organizations of immense power, which are underminding the economies of many developing countries, destabilizing democratic institutions and governments and corrupting bona fide economic structures,

1. Believes that it is not possible to stamp out cultivation of the coca plant in Colombia and the countries of the Andean region unless various alternatives are created, through an effective development cooperation policy, to ensure the survival and development of the local inhabitants;

2. Considers that intervention by foreign military forces in those Latin American countries which are the targets of the offensive being waged by the drug-traffickers is an ineffective, counterproductive and unacceptable solution;

3. Expresses concern at the repercussions which the "war on drugs" declared by President Bush might have on both Latin America and Europe, which could well become a focus for drug-trafficking;

4. Calls for other strategies to be studied for rooting out the international political and financial mafia which controls drug-trafficking, so as to ensure that drug-users are not the victims of the ineffectiveness of legislation which is purely repressive and prohibitionist in nature; to this end, calls on the Commission to organize an international conference on this subject;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council and to the Governments of Colombia and the USA.