EU special session about conflict in Middle East

Published on Mon 24th Jul 2006

Party leaders were recalled to Brussels for a special parliamentary session on the rising conflict in the near and middle east. We called for an immediate ceasefire, to be policed by EU troops joining the 1,900 UN soldiers already there in an expanded role to include peace-keeping, and urgent humanitarian aid for civilian victims of the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon and refugees in Cyprus. In a display of remarkable unity among political parties in the EP we criticised EU member states for not speaking with one voice, essential for Europe to have any influence in stopping this senseless conflict. I had not wanted to be dragged back to Brussels, but I know the gravity of the situation required it.

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If it was a bad week for children in the Lebanon, at least it was better for those in the Sudan and in Niger. An international donors' conference in Brussels on Wednesday received pledges of 200 million dollars to fund the African Union's mission in Sudan until the end of September. And Cssr Louis Michel announced on Thursday a further ten million euros in humanitarian aid to Niger to provide food for children there.

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On Wednesday the Commission announced proposals to deal with the migratory pressure on Europe's southern borders. Commissioner Frattini said nothing about publishing any list of 'safe third countries' to which refugees may be returned by member states without risk: which is good, since in reality there are none. He did announce a rapid reaction force to help in cases of mass arrivals, which is a bit of a gimmick, and more effective police action against people-traffickers, which is a sensible idea. The Commission also agreed on a draft common code on visas, which would oblige member states to give reasons for refusing a visa and would give the person refused a statutory right of appeal: this draft directive will now be sent to Parliament and to the member states in the Council of Ministers for approval. The EU is inching its way towards a common immigration policy.