RE_Statements



|European Parliament |[pic] |

|2014-2019 | |

Plenary sitting

B8-0178/2016

{01/02/2016}1.2.2016

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure

on the situation in Libya

(2016/2537(RSP))

Victor Boştinaru, Knut Fleckenstein, Ana Gomes, Richard Howitt, Pier Antonio Panzeri, Nikos Androulakis, Zigmantas Balčytis, Hugues Bayet, Brando Benifei, Goffredo Maria Bettini, José Blanco López, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, Nicola Caputo, Andi Cristea, Miriam Dalli, Viorica Dăncilă, Nicola Danti, Isabella De Monte, Tanja Fajon, Eugen Freund, Doru-Claudian Frunzulică, Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, Enrico Gasbarra, Neena Gill, Theresa Griffin, Enrique Guerrero Salom, Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto, Cătălin Sorin Ivan, Liisa Jaakonsaari, Kashetu Kyenge, Miltiadis Kyrkos, Javi López, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Andrejs Mamikins, Costas Mavrides, Marlene Mizzi, Luigi Morgano, Alessia Maria Mosca, Victor Negrescu, Momchil Nekov, Péter Niedermüller, Demetris Papadakis, Vincent Peillon, Pina Picierno, Tonino Picula, Kati Piri, Miroslav Poche, Soraya Post, Gabriele Preuß, Siôn Simon, Jutta Steinruck, Tibor Szanyi, Marc Tarabella, Elena Valenciano, Julie Ward, Josef Weidenholzer, Carlos Zorrinho

{S&D}on behalf of the S&D Group

B8-0178/2016

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Libya

(2016/2537(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Libya, in particular those of 15 September 2011[1], 22 November 2012[2], 18 September 2014[3] and 15 January 2015[4],

– having regard to the statements by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR), Federica Mogherini, on Libya of 30 April, 26 and 27 May, 30 June, 12 July, 17 August, 13 and 22 September, 9 October, and 19 and 26 November 2015, and of 7 January 2016,

– having regard to the VP/HR’s remarks of 11 May, 20 July, 12 October, 4 November, and 14 and 17 December 2015, and of 8 January 2016;

– having regard to the declaration by the VP/HR on behalf of the EU on the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement on 17 December 2015,

– having regard to the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions of 30 August, 20 October, 17 and 18 November, and 15 December 2014, of 19 January, 9 February, 16 March and 12 October 2015, and of 18 January 2016,

– having regard to the joint statement on Libya by France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States of 17 February 2015 and to the joint statement by Algeria, France, Germany, Italy, Morocco, Qatar, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and the VP/HR of 19 October 2015,

– having regard to United Nations Security Council resolutions 1970 (2011), 1973 (2011), 2174 (2014) and 2259 (2015),

– having regard to the report of the UN Secretary-General of 26 February 2015 on the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL),

– having regard to the Libyan Political Agreement signed in Skhirat, Morocco, on 17 December 2015 on the formation of a Government of National Accord (GNA),

– having regard to the UNSMIL report of 4 September 2014 on the human rights situation in Libya, and to the updates thereto of 27 December 2014 and of 12 January and 16 November 2015,

– having regard to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Additional Protocols thereto of 1977, and to the obligation of parties in armed conflict to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law in all circumstances,

– having regard to Council Decision 2013/233/CFSP of 22 May 2013 creating the European Union Integrated Border Management Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya)[5],

– having regard to the appointment on 4 November 2015 of Martin Kobler as the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya,

– having regard to its resolutions of 12 March 2015 on the Annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2013 and the EU policy on the matter[6], of 17 December 2015 on the Annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2014 and the EU policy on the matter[7], and of 9 July 2015 on the security challenges in the Middle East and North Africa region and the prospects for political stability[8],

– having regard to the Rome Communique of 13 December 2015 supporting the Government of National Accord as the sole legitimate government of Libya,

– having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the Libyan Political Agreement represents a unique opportunity to start addressing the unsustainable situation in Libya and the suffering of its people, and to build a democratic civil state through national consensus;

B. whereas the political track of the Libyan dialogue involved key members of the Libyan democratisation process, including members of the House of Representatives, the General National Congress and the National Transitional Council; whereas other independent stakeholders such as municipal councils, political parties, tribal leaders and women’s organisations contributed to promoting a genuine reconciliation;

C. whereas the Libyan Political Agreement aims to ensure the democratic rights of the Libyan people, to establish a consensual government based on the principle of the separation of powers, and to empower state institutions such as the Government of National Accord to address all the challenges facing Libya and the Libyan people;

D. whereas the relevant UN Security Council resolutions have classified Daesh, Ansar al-Sharia and Al-Qaeda, all of which are present in Libya, as terrorist organisations;

E. whereas state governance, human rights and the humanitarian situation in Libya have deteriorated amid escalating violence and an increasingly volatile political environment; whereas in January 2016 the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimated that some 435 000 people were displaced across Libya; whereas, in addition, Libya continues to host hundreds of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers of different nationalities, many of whom are living in precarious conditions; whereas Libya has become a transit ground for human trafficking, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe;

F. whereas Libya continues to be embroiled in violence, multiple armed conflicts, low-intensity warfare and war by proxy, which are affecting several regions and contributing to a general breakdown of law and order; whereas violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, widespread abuses, such as summary executions and other killings, arbitrary detention, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, continue to be committed and can only delay the implementation of the agreement and undermine democratic transition;

1. Welcomes the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement on the formation of the Government of National Accord (GNA) as the sole legitimate government of Libya, consisting of the Presidency Council – headed by Fayez al-Sarraj – and the Cabinet, supported by the other institutions of state, including the House of Representatives and the State Council;

2. Urges the House of Representatives and its Presidency to show a spirit of compromise and to continue to discuss the Cabinet list with a view to the endorsement of the Government of National Accord as provided for in the Libyan Political Agreement;

3. Underlines the Libyan ownership of the Libyan Political Agreement; stresses the importance of implementing it in good faith, with sustained political will and inclusiveness; notes that its full implementation will provide the necessary tools to address the urgent challenges of reforming and building state institutions, consolidating the rule of law, fighting terrorism, improving the human rights situation, addressing the phenomenon of migration, combating human traffickers and stimulating economic growth;

4. Fully backs the mediation efforts undertaken by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya, Martin Kobler, with the aim of facilitating a Libyan-led political solution by finding a negotiated settlement that will resolve the crisis and ensure unity, governability, stability and peace; believes, in this connection, that a process of national reconciliation is essential to a peaceful, democratic and inclusive future society in Libya, and encourages the international community, in particular the UN, with effective support from the EU, to steer that process; calls for the EU to impose targeted sanctions such as travel bans and asset freezes against individuals and organisations that boycott the Libyan Political Agreement;

5. Expresses its solidarity with the Libyan people and strongly condemns all violence and terrorist attacks, including the most recent ones, and the human rights violations and abuses resulting from the fighting and military operations; expresses its deep concern for the suffering of the civilian Libyan population and all the migrants, expatriates and refugees stranded in Libya; notes that fighting in Libya has resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths, mass displacements and dire humanitarian conditions; reiterates its support for the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in helping to rebuild the justice system and expresses its willingness to cooperate with it to end impunity for the most serious crimes; takes the view that it is crucial for all relevant actors in Libya to cooperate with the ICC;

6. Recalls that all parties in Libya must commit to the protection of civilians at all times, and that all those detained should be treated in accordance with international human rights and humanitarian law; recalls that attacks intentionally directed against personnel involved in humanitarian assistance or a peacekeeping mission in accordance with the UN Charter and intended for the protection of civilians or civilian objects under the international law of armed conflict constitute war crimes under the Rome Statute of the ICC;

7. Calls on neighbouring countries and regional players to refrain from actions which might exacerbate divisions and undermine Libya’s democratic transition, and to support fully the Government of National Accord as the sole legitimate government of Libya; points out that those who are actively creating obstacles to a Government of National Accord are in violation of UN Security Council resolutions on Libya and must face the consequences of their actions; believes that the EU should use its diplomacy and foreign policy tools, within the remit of the common security and defence policy (CSDP) and other policies such as those on trade and cooperation, to encourage countries in the Middle East and North Africa region to engage positively with the transition process in Libya; believes, likewise, that the EU and its Member States should end their silence regarding the support provided by some players in the region to warring factions in Libya and to terrorist groups using Libyan territory for their proxy wars; welcomes the facilitation role played by Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco, and recalls the importance of a stable Libya for the stability and security of the entire region;

8. Asks all Member States to support fully the VP/HR’s efforts and to work with the Libyan authorities, the EU and UNSMIL to develop a coordinated package of measures in support of the Government of National Accord, respecting Libyan priorities and requests; further calls on the Member States to refrain from implementing national policies and activities in Libya which may run counter in any way to EU and international efforts; is of the view that the EU bears great responsibility vis-à-vis Libya’s rehabilitation, reconstruction and democratic transition, and believes that only through a concerted, united and carefully articulated European strategy will the EU be able to contribute consistently and positively to peace and stability in Libya; notes, in this connection, that support for Security Sector Reform (SSR) is crucial to ensuring democratic governance, and that the Member States must be ready to commit to fully supporting this effort on the ground at the request of the Libyan authorities; notes that this is fully in line with Europe’s own security needs and interests;

9. Welcomes the EUR 100 million aid package announced by the EU; stresses, however, the importance of redoubling humanitarian funding to meet the most urgent needs of those who have been severely affected by the conflict in Libya; underlines the need to provide funds to help humanitarian organisations to better assess the situation and improve their response to needs on the ground; points out that, once in power, the Government of National Accord has the legitimacy to reclaim the Libyan assets that have been held abroad since the Gaddafi period;

10. Recalls the central role of the parliamentary dimension as regards a political solution to the crisis; stresses that the European Parliament’s bodies and its Members can share their institutional experience with Libyan actors in order to support them in their pursuit of an inclusive political dialogue;

11. Expresses grave concern over the growing threat posed by terrorist groups to Libya’s sovereignty, national unity and democratic transition; reiterates its strong condemnation of extremism, terrorism and violence in all their forms and manifestations and regardless of the motivations for them; stresses the need to assist the Government of National Accord in responding to threats to Libyan security and to support the new government in defeating Daesh, Ansar al-Sharia and all the groups associated with Al-Qaeda that are operating in Libya; welcomes the decision to establish a Temporary Security Committee to facilitate the implementation of the security arrangements defined in the Libyan Political Agreement;

12. Remains concerned about the proliferation of weapons, ammunition and explosives, and arms smuggling, which pose a risk to the population and to the stability of Libya and the region; notes with deep concern the strengthening of a terrorist hub in southern Libya and the risk it may pose as a training base for Daesh if immediate measures are not taken; notes that it is in Europe’s own security interest to support the Libyan authorities in eradicating terrorists from their soil, stopping the flow of arms, decommissioning all weapons in the hands of private groups, and dismantling all armed groups or criminal networks operating in or through Libya;

13. Underlines the need to take immediate steps to dismantle all armed groups, to reduce the flow of arms into the country and to be more forthright in confronting the regional actors who are contributing to the conflict by providing arms or other military support; expresses its strong concern that arms shipments to Libya could fall into the wrong hands; reaffirms that the Government of National Accord must be the one and only body authorised to import arms and ammunition, in accordance with Libya’s international obligations, including the relevant UN Security Council resolutions; emphasises the need for a single, robust national army that is under the control of the Government of National Accord and is able to control the entire territory of Libya and its waters, to secure its borders and to fight internal and external threats;

14. Recalls the EU’s strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Libya; recalls UN Security Council resolutions 2174 (2014) and 2213 (2015), which broaden the existing international sanctions against Libya to include the criminal responsibility of people who engage in or support acts that ‘threaten the peace, stability or security of Libya, or obstruct or undermine the successful completion of its political transition’;

15. Stresses the need to ensure the neutrality and independence of financial and petroleum institutions, under the authority of the Government of National Accord, and in particular of the Central Bank of Libya (CBL), the National Oil Company (NOC) and the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA); stresses the need to ensure that these institutions function in a transparent and accountable manner, including with a view to the recovery of stolen state assets for the benefit of all Libyans and of the democratic government;

16. Reiterates its call on the VP/HR to review the mandate of the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) in Libya, which is currently on hold and stationed in Tunisia, in order to take account of the changing situation in the country and with a view to designing a properly coordinated CSDP mission to operate in conjunction with the Government of National Accord, the UN and regional partners; takes the view that a CSDP mission should be aimed at supporting the implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement, should give priority to Security Sector Reform (SSR) and Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR), and should respond to other urgent needs relating to inclusive governance;

17. Expresses the need to select areas of spending carefully, given the instability that characterises many countries of the southern Mediterranean, and the revision of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP); expresses the view that the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) 2014-2020 should include, as priorities, activities aimed at supporting the socio-economic conditions for transition, including job creation and vocational training for Libyan young people and women, intercultural and interreligious dialogue, and technical expertise for improved monitoring of borders;

18. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Libyan Government of National Accord, the UN Secretary-General, the Arab League and the African Union.

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[1] OJ C 51 E, 22.2.2013, p. 114.

[2] OJ C 419, 16.12.2015, p. 192.

[3] Texts adopted, P8_TA(2014)0028.

[4] Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0010.

[5] OJ L 138, 24.5.2013, p. 15.

[6] Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0076.

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