Organisational Statement of Support

European Parliament Resolution

The European Parliament IS:

1. Mindful of the objection of the Australian Government to a human rights clause within the co-operation agreement between Australia and the European Union;

2. Concerned about the recent decision of the Australian Government to consider the development of the Jabiluka Uranium project which is located in an area surrounded by the World Heritage Kakadu National Park;

3. Aware of the motion of the Australian Senate from 20 October 1997 calling on the Australian Government not to proceed with the project;

4. Aware of the fact that the Jabiluka site as well as the nearby Ranger uranium operations are located on legally recognised Aboriginal territory;

5. Considering the fact the sites are of significance for the cultural heritage of the Aboriginal peoples;

6. Noting that the project evaluation by Environment Australia has resulted in concerns regarding its impacts on wilderness and World Heritage values as well as on radioactive tailings;

7. Concerned that the health effects of the already existing mining facilities at Roxby Downs , Ranger and the currently planned Jabiluka Project for the Aboriginal people;

The European Parliament:

1. Calls on the Australian Government to respect the status of the Kakadu National Park as a World Heritage site;

2. Calls on the Australian Government to respect the land rights of the Aboriginal Peoples as well as the provisions on indigenous peoples provided by the Vienna Declaration;

3. Calls therefore on the Australian Government not to proceed with the project;

4. Calls on the Commission to obtain an independent study about the imports of the European Union analysing the impact of uranium mining and processing on health and environment, on the rights of indigenous peoples and on waste production of the mining operations in regard to the respective country of origin;

5. Calls on the Member States, as a first step, to ban all imports of uranium from mines where the land rights of Indigenous Peoples are being compromised;

6. Calls on its SubCommittee on Human Rights to closely monitor the case;

7. Instructs the President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the Australian Government; the Australian Senate, the Northern Land Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Passed Unamended: 15/1/98