EP - Parliament calls for moratorium on cluster munitions

Joint motion for a resolution on cluster munitions
Doc.: B6-0108/2004, B6-0111/2004, B6-0112/2004, B6-0120/2004, B6-0123/2004, B6-0125/2004
Debate/Vote: 28.10.2004


In a resolution adopted by a clear majority, Parliament calls for an immediate moratorium on the use, stockpiling, production, transfer or export of cluster munitions until an international agreement has been negotiated on the regulation, restriction or banning of these weapons.

Parliament urges all states not party to Protocol V to the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons on Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) and the Ottawa Convention on Anti-Personnel Landmines to sign and ratify both and to abide by their spirit in the interim period. It urges the Presidency of the Council and the EU Member States to support a new protocol to the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons that tackles all humanitarian problems associated with the use of cluster munitions.

MEPs call on all those who use cluster munitions to accept responsibility for their clearance and in particular to keep accurate records of where such munitions have been used in order to help clearance efforts following conflict. They underline the responsibility of a state in control of territory to provide warnings, and take measures to protect the civilian population, including through the education of children, and to provide special information on assisting victims of ERW.

Parliament also calls on the Commission to increase financial assistance to communities and individuals affected by unexploded cluster munitions through all available instruments.

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