Tuesday, 22nd of October 2013, the European Parliament has adopted the report Tannock on the situation of human rights in the Sahel region which includes a section on Western Sahara.

This report focuses on the need to resolve the conflict in Western Sahara, which currently hampers the regional integration, and reaffirms the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people. About the Sahel, it points out an extremely worrying situation regarding security, human rights and human, social and economic development.

 

Malika Benarab- Attou, MEP Greens/EFA, declares: “In the Sahel region, the EU must have a global and integrated political response. This region is facing huge challenges: corruption, conflict and multiple trafficking, slavery, terrorism and organized crime, poverty, crisis of governance, democratic deficit, violation of human rights, forced displacement and refugee, discrimination. These obstacles hinder the democratic and socio-economic development of the region. In these countries, it is necessary to support major reforms in many areas: social, justice, administration, security, health, education, youth, employment, agriculture and human development. Hence, we need to implement policies that meet the needs and specificities of each of them. In this sense, the EU must provide its expertise, experience and funds in solidarity with our south neighbours. Such funding must be implemented in the priority sectors and have to be monitored in a transparent and efficient way. We must implement urgently a coordinated and adequate European strategies.”

 

The Greens MEP. “The EU, in its policies to the Sahel region, has to strengthen cooperation with African partners, both at regional and continental level, and puts into actions sanctions mechanisms against the most serious violations of human rights.”

 

Concerning Western Sahara, according to Malika Benarab-Attou : “The Tannock report, as voted, mentioned scarcely the exploitation of natural resources while the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people is reaffirmed. The EP must have an open and dispassionate debate on this issue. The “human rights” approach must be at the heart of the process of negotiation and conflict resolution, for both the Sahel and the Western Sahara. Regarding this latter, the strengthening of dialogue between Morocco and Algeria could reduce tensions and lead to a peaceful and positive outcome. In this sense, the EU should request the extension of Mr. Ross mandate, the UN mediator, promote human rights and support the efforts of reconciliation, including through negotiations under the auspices of the UN and its instruments of external policy. “