Council recommendation on the Western Sahara

In adopting the recommendation by Mr José Maria MENDILUCE PEREIRO (PSE, E) on Western Sahara, tabled in the context of the CFSP (Rule 92), Parliament called on the Council: -to take note of Parliament's concern that the EU should firmly support the full application of the United Nations peace plan and that the referendum on self-determination should be held in such a way as to ensure conditions of equal opportunity for both sides and security for voters; -to draw up a common position reaffirming the EU's full support for the peace plan and all its intermediary stages (identification of voters, quartering of troops, exchange of prisoners, release of political detainees and 'disappeared persons', repatriation of refugees, organization of the electoral campaign, etc.), as well as playing an active part in the holding of a free and transparent referendum on self-determination on the scheduled date and contributing to ensuring that both sides observe their undertakings; -to provide the necessary humanitarian aid, both through the UN and its specialized agencies (particularly the UNHCR) and other organizations active in the region so as to assist with the proper resettlement of the Saharan people in the disputed zone and, generally, organize EU participation in the tasks of MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara); -to draw up a programme for future long-term cooperation with a view to full and sustainable development of Western Sahara. �