European Parliament Calls for Ban on DU Weapons

Two important legislative steps have been taken on the issue of DU. On the 12th February the European Parliament, after a debate, passed a resolution that calls for the establishment of moratoriums on cluster bombs and depleted uranium ammunition "pending a total ban".

The scope of the legislation is quite broad, calling for the "Council to support independent and thorough investigations into the possible harmful effects of the use of depleted uranium ammunition (and other types of uranium warheads) in battlefield operations such as in the Balkans, Afghanistan and other regions" and for the results to be presented in Parliament; that a comprehensive study should take place on the requirements of international humanitarian law in relation to DU weaponry and that the Commission should monitor developments in relation to environmental contamination and long-term hazards to human health.

Most pleasingly the resolution also calls for action by EU Member States to provide "assistance, in the form of economic assistance, land clearance, social assistance and medical support, to those affected by such weapons". That Tony Blair was willing to defy the European Parliament and follow the US into using DU barely a month after this resolution was passed shows us a lot about where his interests lie.

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Page last updated: 6th December 2002