Graham Watson: "EU shows its impotence in stemming violence in the Middle East"

3.29.17pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 20th Jul 2006

At today's extraordinary meeting of Parliament's Conference of Presidents on the Middle East, European Liberal Democrat Leader Graham Watson, MEP called for the immediate mobilisation of an enlarged UN force with strong EU participation to restore peace and order in Lebanon:

"Quick, effective foreign intervention is of urgent necessity. Yet so far the only substantial EU activity on the ground has been a whole-scale evacuation by Member States of their own nationals. Once again, we stand divided. The EU's impotence in stemming the violence, which has taken the lives of hundreds of civilians requires immediate UN-led military intervention. To that end we must enlarge both the number and the mandate of the UN forces currently stationed in Lebanon - and be ready and willing to contribute EU and NATO troops.

I welcome EU High Representative Javier Solana's efforts to mediate a solution and show Europe's solidarity with the innocent victims of these attacks. Violence against civilians can never be regarded as a proportionate response to terror, particularly when it is meted out indiscriminately. I stand shoulder to shoulder with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, in calling for those on both sides who deliberately attack civilians in this spiral of violence between Israel and Lebanon to face war crimes charges".

While commending President Borrell's initiative to convene the Conference of Presidents Graham Watson criticised the absence of representatives from the other EU institutions. "It is disgraceful that neither the Council nor the European Commission considers hearing the views of the leaders of the democratically elected European Parliament sufficiently important to merit attendance at today's meeting."

Group Leaders today signed up to a joint statement calling inter alia for an immediate ceasefire, supporting a UN-led international intervention force and for the EU to speak with one voice.

"It is a matter of urgency that humanitarian aid be delivered to Lebanon, to Gaza and to the refugees in Cyprus" concluded Watson. "I welcome today's announcement by Commissioner Michel to release 10 million euros in emergency assistance. This shows that the European Commission is capable of decisive and coordinated action within its sphere of competences whilst showing up the lack of consensus among Member States as regards delivering any sort of Common Foreign and Security Policy."