Summary: January 13, 2005: European Parliament - Tsunami aid - pledged money must be spent
Motions for resolutions - EU aid for tidal wave victims in Asia
Doc.: B6-0034/2005, B6-0059/2005, B6-0060/2005, B6-0062/2005, B6-0063/2005, B6-0064/2005
Vote : 13.01.2005
In a joint resolution adopted by Parliament with 560 votes in favour, 1 against and 19 abstentions, MEPs expressed their condolences and deepest sympathy to the peoples and governments of the afflicted countries, as well as to all the families of victims in Southeast Asia, East Africa, Europe and elsewhere. The House expresses its thanks to the people of the countries affected for the way they responded to the human disaster, despite their own personal suffering and loss, giving so much succour
to European nationals affected by the disaster.
The emergency response
MEPs call on the international community to pay special attention to the situation of the 1.5 million children who, according to UNICEF's estimates, have been affected by the disaster. The House urges that relief be directed towards finding, identifying and reuniting children who have lost their families, ensuring that children are returned to school as soon as possible and, in the light of reports which suggest that child traffickers are emerging to take advantage of the disaster by selling
the youngsters into forced labour or sexual slavery, directing the relief effort towards ensuring that children are protected from exploitation.
Financial response
MEPs fully support the announcement by the European Commission that it will provide for an additional amount of €100m from the emergency aid reserve. The House notes, moreover, the Commission's intention of providing for additional financial assistance of up to €350m for rehabilitation and reconstruction aid to help in the relief efforts following the Asian tsunami disaster. MEPs welcome the EU's rapid disbursement of the initial €23m, as well as the involvement of ECHO experts in the relief
effort. The House further welcomes the mobilisation of the European Community Civil Protection Mechanism, which has been active since the tsunami occurred, as well as the supporting work of the European Commission's Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC), which has coordinated this assistance. The House welcomes the proposal for a €1bn 'Indian Ocean tsunami lending facility' to be managed by the European Investment Bank, but demands that any funding respect sustainable social and environmental
standards. MEPs take the view that any substantial contribution by the EU to the reconstruction and development of tsunami-affected countries should not be offered to the detriment of assistance to other countries or region. EU assistance will be financed taking into consideration the budgetary procedures and, if necessary, on the basis of all possibilities provided for in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary
discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure.
Medium-term action
The House calls for the technology for a comprehensive and effective early warning system to be developed without delay and made available to the countries of the Indian Ocean, as well as those of other regions vulnerable to tsunami and other natural disasters
Long-term needs
Parliament stresses that rebuilding the affected areas must focus on improving the situation of the surviving inhabitants by aiming to reduce poverty as well as future vulnerability to tsunami. MEPs insist that all funds given for reconstruction must be subject to full transparency and accountability before their disbursement. Parliament calls on the governments concerned to develop National Reconstruction Plans which include mechanisms for a broad spectrum of civil society to participate in
their design and implementation.
Sri Lanka and Indonesia
Finally, MEPs call on the European Union and the international community to promote the peace processes in Indonesia and Sri Lanka alongside long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation aid to those countries.
| Top |
European Union Member States
Alerts by email
Email this page
Print this page