Pressrelease by Tobias Pflüger, MEP GUE/NGL, Brussels, 23 March 2006

On today’s vote in the European Parliament on the planned military mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The plans for a military intervention in Congo must be stopped immediately. In the case of this mission of EU soldiers, it is first of all an attempt to support an authoritarian regime and prove the military intervention capability of the EU. Declarations such as that of German defence minister Jung, that the mission will serve to guarantee the interests of the German economy and defend Europe against refugees, are scandalous.

Military intervention policy in Africa must not be allowed to continue under a European flag. Africa does not need any European gunboat diplomacy.

Already, many consider rightfully that the planned EU military intervention is in support of the authoritarian president Kabila and his war-lord-government and that it is directed against the population. No surprise then that the Congolese security forces trained by the EU are being accused of numerous human rights violations.

The decision motion submitted in the European parliament by conservatives, social democrats, liberals and right-wingers on the EU military intervention in Congo contains no limitation on the mission to Kinshasa.

The motion voted today in the plenary session says that there is no limitation on the military mission in terms of the area it is to cover. The goal of the military mission is mentioned explicitly as “deterring possible trouble makers” at the elections. To that end, the Council is asked “to develop a clear concept of how to deploy the necessary military or police (possibly gendarmerie) forces".

Against these adventurous demands, my group has put up its own motion, which clearly rejects the military mission. By contrast, civilian support in the election and an EU mission of election observers should be welcomed.

In order to make MEP positions on the EU military mission transparent to the public, my group has requested a roll-call vote. The resolution in favour of the military intervention in Congo has been adopted with 139 votes against.

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