European Parliament Passes DU Resolution

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European Parliament passes far reaching DU resolution in landslide vote

http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/a/181.html

 

The European Parliament has passed its fourth and most far-reaching resolution

yet against the use of uranium weapons. MEPs have called for an EU and NATO-wide

moratorium and global ban.

22 May 2008 - ICBUW

 

The resolution reflects an increasingly outspoken position from the European

Parliament on the issue of uranium weapons. It begins with a call for EU member

states to submit reports on DU to the UN Secretary General in line with last

year's General Assembly resolution and classifies DU along with cluster bombs

and landmines as inhumane. In response to the wealth of new information on DU's

threat to health, it then requests that the European Council and Commission

launch studies into areas where DU has been used.

It then calls for a halt to the deployment of military and civilian personnel

in areas where DU has been used and urges member states to provide information

on DU hazards to service personnel and civilian organisations.

The resolution goes on to request that an environmental inventory recording

the use of uranium weapons is set up and that a financial mechanism is put in

place for victim assistance in contaminated areas.

EU and NATO member states are finally urged to impose a moratorium on DU's use

and to redouble efforts that may lead to a global ban. Moreover it calls on the

EU to take a lead in working towards this goal if a link is made between uranium

weapons and ill health is proved.

 

The resolution was proposed by the Greens/European Free Alliance. ICBUW acted in

an advisory role during the drafting of the text.

The outcome of the final vote:

 

Total votes 521.

In favour: 491

Against: 18

Abstentions: 12

 

 

RESOLUTION

tabled by:

- Els De Groen, Caroline Lucas and Angelika Beer - on behalf of the Green/EFA

Group

- on behalf of PSE (Socialist Group in the EP www.socialistgroup.org)

- on behalf of PPE (European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European

Democrats www.epp-ed.eu)

- on behalf of ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

www.alde.eu)

- on behalf of GUE/NGL (Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic

Green Left www.guengl.eu)

- on behalf of UEN (Union for Europe of the Nations European Parliament

http://www.uengroup.org)

P6_TA-PROV(2008)0233

Global treaty to ban uranium weapons

PE 401.545

European Parliament resolution of 22 May 2008 on (depleted) uranium weapons

and their effect on human health and the environment – towards a global ban on

the use of such weapons

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on the harmful effects of the use

of uranium (including depleted uranium) in conventional weapons,

– having regard to the UN Secretary-General's speech on the occasion of the

International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and

Armed Conflict (6 November 2002),

– having regard to UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/62/30, adopted on 5

December 2007, highlighting serious health concerns about the use of depleted

uranium weapons,

– having regard to Rule 108(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas (depleted) uranium has been widely used in modern warfare, both as

ammunition against hardened targets in rural and urban environments and as

hardened armoured protection against missile and artillery attacks,

B. whereas, ever since its use by the allied forces in the first war against

Iraq, there have been serious concerns about the radiological and chemical

toxicity of the fine uranium particles produced when such weapons impact on hard

targets; whereas concerns have also been expressed about the contamination of

soil and groundwater by expended rounds that have missed their targets and their

implications for civilian populations,

C. whereas, despite the fact that scientific research has so far been unable

to find conclusive evidence of harm, there are numerous testimonies as to the

harmful and often deadly effects on both military personnel and civilians,

D. whereas the last few years have seen great advances in terms of

understanding the environmental and health hazards posed by depleted uranium,

and whereas it is high time that this was reflected in international military

standards, as they develop,

E. whereas the use of depleted uranium in warfare runs counter to the basic

rules and principles enshrined in written and customary international,

humanitarian and environmental law,

1. Urges the Member States to adhere to paragraph 1 of the above-mentioned UN

resolution and to submit a report with their views on the effects of the use of

armaments and ammunition containing depleted uranium;

2. Recommends that the EU High Representative include in the forthcoming

revised version of the European Security Strategy the need to give serious

thought to the future utility of unguided munitions, as well as cluster bombs,

mines and other weapons of indiscriminate effect, such as depleted uranium

weapons;

3. Requests the Council and the Commission to commission scientific studies

into the use of depleted uranium in all regions where European and international

military and civilian personnel have been deployed;

4. Urges Member States, within the framework of future operations, not to use

depleted uranium weapons in European Security and Defence Policy operations and

not to deploy military and civilian personnel in regions where no guarantee can

be given to the effect that depleted uranium has not been, or will not be, used;

5. Urges Member States, the Council and the Commission to provide full

information to their military and civilian personnel on mission, as well as to

their professional organisations, about the probability that depleted uranium

has been or might be used in their region of operations, and to take sufficient

protective measures;

6. Calls on the Member States, the Council and the Commission to establish an

environmental inventory of depleted uranium-contaminated areas (including

testing ranges) and to provide full support – including financial support – for

projects that could assist victims and their relatives as well as for clean-up

operations in the affected areas, should a negative effect on human health and

the environment be confirmed;

7. Strongly reiterates its call on all Member States and NATO countries to

impose a moratorium on the use of depleted uranium weapons and to redouble

efforts towards a global ban, as well as systematically to halt production and

procurement of this type of weaponry;

8. Calls on the Member States and the Council to take the lead in working –

through the UN or through a 'coalition of the willing' – towards an

international treaty establishing a ban on the development, production,

stockpiling, transfer, testing and use of uranium weapons as well as the

destruction or recycling of existing stocks, should there be conclusive

scientific evidence of harm caused by such weapons;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the

Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, NATO and the

NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the UN and the United Nations Environmental

Programme, the European Organisation of Military Associations, the International

Committee of the Red Cross and the World Health Organization.

 

Parliament calls for a global ban on depleted uranium weapons

Security and defence - 22-05-2008 - 13:21

In a resolution adopted on depleted uranium (DU) weapons, the House calls for

a moratorium on their use, increased pressure for an international treaty to ban

them, and more research on these weapons. The resolution " strongly reiterates

its call on all EU Member States and NATO countries to impose a moratorium on

the use of depleted uranium weapons and to redouble efforts towards a global

ban. " The resolution was adopted with 491 votes in favour, 18 against and 12

abstentions.

Depleted uranium is used in ammunition, to increase the strength of casings

for penetrating armour. Upon impact, however, the depleted uranium can be

dispersed in the form of DU dust, which can cover large areas of conflict zones,

and have averse health effects both for soldiers and civilians, even long after

the conflict is over.

 

The Parliament addressed an oral question to both the Commission and the Council

on the subject. Annemie Neyts (ALDE, BE), one of the question's authors, asked

" what specific measures can be taken to halt exposure to such DU for both

soldiers and civilians? " Another author, Ana Gomes (PES, PT) noted that " the

most basic cautionary principle should get us to stop manufacturing such

weapons. "

 

The Council presidency replied that since no consensus exists on this topic in

the Council, there's not much it can do at this juncture. Commissioner Louis

Michel noted that military issues of this nature lie outside the competence of

the European Commission, but expressed his willingness to conduct a study to

re-examine the effects of DU exposure on human health. He also noted that the

Commission does fund efforts such as projects to remove unexploded ordinance out

of post-conflict zones, citing the example of Lebanon, where 5 million euros of

EU funds have been spent for this purpose.

 

The joint resolution adopted by Parliament " urges the Member States to adhere to

paragraph 1 of the UN resolution adopted on 5 December 2007 and to submit a

report with their views on the effects of the use of armaments and ammunition

containing depleted uranium. " It also calls on the Member States and the Council

to take the lead in working towards an international treaty--through the UN or

through a 'coalition of the willing'--to establish a ban on the development,

production, stockpiling, transfer, testing and use of uranium weapons as well as

the destruction or recycling of existing stocks, should there be conclusive

scientific evidence of harm caused by such weapons. "

 

The resolution " strongly reiterates its call on all EU Member States and NATO

countries to impose a moratorium on the use of depleted uranium weapons and to

redouble efforts towards a global ban. " It also urges Member States " not to use

depleted uranium weapons in ESDP operations and not to deploy military and

civilian personnel in regions where no guarantee can be given to the effect that

depleted uranium has not been, or will not be, used. "

 

 

 

 

 

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