Conclusions of EU External Relations Council - Sudan

Conclusions on Sudan

1. The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) opened a new chapter in Sudanese politics. It is the primary responsibility of the signatories to that Agreement to implement it in good faith. In this phase the EU will maintain its commitment to restoring peace and development and will assume its responsibilities accordingly in the Assessment and Evaluation Commission.

2. The Council notes the progress made in implementing the Comprehensive Agreement. It considers that the constitutional review now under way should act as a catalyst for bringing on board political forces, including opposition parties and groups, in both northern and southern Sudan, which were not parties to the Naivasha negotiations, and it appeals to the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement to facilitate their participation in this crucial process.

3. The Council stresses the importance of the Comprehensive Agreement in accommodating the aspirations of various marginalised regions and in gradually establishing a fully democratic system in Sudan. The Council endorses all efforts to achieve south-south reconciliation and the gradual establishment of the institutions necessary for a modern administration.

4. The Council reaffirms that the peace process in Sudan is an integrated process and expresses its concern at the slow progress that has been made. Implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the launch of an inclusive democratic process, together with developments in the crisis in Darfur, are decisive factors for the future of EU-Sudan relations. The speed and scale of disbursement of the EU assistance pledged at the Oslo Conference will hinge very largely on those factors.

5. UN Security Council Resolutions 1590, 1591 and 1593 are key bases for the commitment of the international community, and the EU urges all parties in Sudan to cooperate fully with the United Nations and with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in implementing them. The EU fully supports the ICC's action and will keep close track of progress through the reports to the UN Security Council. The EU fully supports the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and calls on the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement to take all necessary steps to assist in its rapid deployment.

6. The Council stresses its firm resolve to ban all deliveries of arms and military equipment to the Government of Sudan and points out that the EU's arms embargo, imposed by its Decision of 15 March 1994 and amended in response to UN Security Council Resolution 1591, which applies to the entire Sudanese territory, remains in force.

The Council remains prepared to consider taking further appropriate measures against those responsible for infringements from any of the parties to the conflict; such measures will depend on how the situation develops and could include targeted sanctions.

The Council remains deeply concerned at the continuing violence against the civilian population in Darfur, despite a lull in the military confrontation. The Council is also concerned at the upsurge of banditry and the murderous attacks on humanitarian agencies. It strongly condemns such acts, some of which can be prosecuted by the ICC, and requests all parties to the conflict scrupulously to observe the N'Djamena ceasefire and the Abuja Humanitarian and Security Protocols. The Council also strongly condemns the taking hostage of a Ceasefire Commission observer team by the Sudan Liberation Army.

7. There is no military solution to the conflict. The Council urges the warring parties in Darfur to commit themselves wholeheartedly to efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully, in particular by sending top-level representatives to the next session of AU-sponsored negotiations in Abuja. The Council calls for a rapid resumption of those negotiations, which it is supporting through the EU representative in the mediation team. It stands ready to take other appropriate steps that might contribute to the negotiating process, in agreement and in cooperation with the AU.

8. The EU considers that strengthening the EU-AU partnership is the best way to help improve security in Darfur. The Council has noted the AU Peace and Security Committee's decision of 28 April 2005 to increase the military and civilian strength of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). The Council calls on the AU quickly to take the measures identified during the joint assessment mission in March 2005 in order to render the currently deployed mission fully operational and so prepare the ground for the expansion of AMIS in the near future. The EU will lend all possible support to military, police and civilian efforts, in response to AU requests, by presenting a comprehensive and substantial offer to the AMIS donor conference on 26 May 2005 in Addis Ababa. The relevant Council bodies have already begun looking into the various forms that such support could take, with particular regard to planning, logistics, equipment, strategic and tactical airlift, development of the AU's observation capabilities and training. The Council here highlights the need, to ensure complementarity and transparency, to consult with other prominent members of the international community involved in supporting the AU mission in Sudan, including the United Nations, NATO, the United States and Canada.

9. The Council is concerned at the tensions in eastern Sudan, which have already resulted in clashes between demonstrators and police in Port Sudan and Kassala. Moreover, the Council would encourage the Government of Sudan to begin talks at once with all opposition groups in the east of the country, in order to defuse tensions in that area.

10. The Council is also concerned at the tensions that have arisen between Khartoum, 'Djamena and Asmara, which entail a risk of regionalisation of the Darfur crisis and escalating tension in the east of the country. The Council urges the Governments concerned to seek a swift settlement of their differences through dialogue and cooperation.

11. The Council welcomes the Resolution on Sudan adopted at the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights and urges the Government of Sudan to implement all the measures mentioned in that Resolution, and in particular to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur to be appointed. In accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000), the Council would encourage the Government of Sudan to involve civil society and women in all stages of the peace process.

| Haut |

• EU Presidency Statement - Sudan  (23/9/2005)
• EU Presidency Declaration on New Government of National Unity in Sudan (11/7/2005)
• EU Parliament - Freezing funds of arms dealers in Sudan and Congo  (14/6/2005)
• Commission allocates €12 million to Darfur victims who have fled to Chad  (3/6/2005)
• Consolidated EU package in support of AMIS II (26/5/2005)
• Intervention de Solana, Secrétaire Général du Conseil de l'UE, Haut Représentant pour la PESC - Addis Abeba (26/5/2005)
• EU Presidency declaration on Darfur (Sudan) (7/2/2005)
• GAERC - Council Conclusions on Dafur (Sudan) (31/1/2005)
• EC and Sudanese authorities sign the CSP to resume co-operation (25/1/2005)