A4-0234/96

European Parliament recommendation to the Council on observation by the European Union of the elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina

The European Parliament,

- having regard to Article J.7 of the EU Treaty,

- having regard to Rule 92 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the joint action adopted by the Council on 10 June 1996 on the Union's support for the electoral process in Bosnia-Herzegovina ((OJ L 168, 6.7.1996, p. 1.)),

- having regard to the proposal for a recommendation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy (A4-0234/96),

A. whereas the European Union has a special responsibility for the elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina scheduled for 14 September 1996,

B. whereas the joint action adopted by the Council with regard to the Union's support for the electoral process is insufficient and should be reviewed, as the Council itself suggests in Article 4, to include election observation activities,

C. whereas observation of the elections by Community institutions and by Member State parliaments and governments should be coordinated by the Union,

D. whereas it is legitimate and politically consistent for the European Parliament to play a particularly prominent role in the political observation of the elections and this participation should be ensured by the Commission and Council,

1. Puts to the Council the following recommendations:

(a) that it review the joint action of 10 June 1996 and extend it with a view to providing full and high-profile Union support for election observation activities,

(b) that it take all possible measures to coordinate the participation of the various Union and Member State institutions in election observation tasks and that it involve the European Parliament in the preparation, implementation and evaluation phases,

(c) that the political nature of the European Parliament observers' delegation be recognized in the joint action and that its visibility and logistics be duly guaranteed by the Council and Commission in such a way as to distinguish it from supervisors and technical observers and to ensure that it enjoys suitable political prominence;

2. Instructs its President to forward this recommendation to the Council and Commission.