During the plenary session (15-18 April 2019) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the situation in Sudan. Statements by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, Joachim ZELLER (EPP, DE), Enrique GUERRERO SALOM (S&D, ES), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), Marie-Christine VERGIAT (GUE/NGL, FR) and Neena GILL (S&D, UK).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

respect for human rights in the world (T)

GUERRERO SALOM, Enrique (S&D, ES)

VERGIAT, Marie-Christine (GUE/NGL, FR)

MOGHERINI, Federica (IT, EC)

SCHAAKE, Marietje (ALDE, NL)

GILL, Neena (S&D, UK)

EU - Sudan (T)

ZELLER, Joachim (EPP, DE)

Situation in Sudan: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, The people of Sudan are asking for change. For four months now they have demonstrated, not only against the dramatic increase in the price of essential goods but mainly also for freedom, peace and justice.

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, The image of a Sudanese student, a girl, standing in a white dress on the roof of a car, speaking to the crowd, has already become a symbol. She is now called the Sudanese Statue of Liberty. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, We Europeans want to support this aspiration to liberty. The Europeans want the people of Sudan to succeed, we want their call for liberty to be heard and to translate into real change for a country that has already suffered too much. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, Last week, the Sudanese military took over power and put al-Bashir under house arrest. As you all know, al-Bashir has been indicted by the International Criminal Court and we have repeatedly asked to execute the arrest warrant. The military leaders initially announced a two-year transition to be led by a transitional military council composed of different strands of the security forces. This announcement was quickly rejected by both the protesters and the opposition parties. They asked for a concrete guarantee of  a much quicker civilian transition. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, As soon as a civilian transition takes place, the European Union will be ready to accompany it both politically and also economically. 

SOUNDBITE (German), Joachim ZELLER (EPP, DE), We need a consistent, coherent position of all member states, chaired by the High Representative for Sudan, working with the African Union, to support the civilian forces in Sudan, so we don't see Sudan turning into a second Libya.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Enrique GUERRERO SALOM (S&amp;D, ES), Our group supports the High Representative's position of supporting a civilian transition, not recognizing a military council, taking al-Bashir to the international court and to demand an end to the repressions against doctors and other key personnel to fight the humanitarian crisis.

SOUNDBITE (English), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), The youth of Sudan is the population of Sudan, with an average age of 19 years old. And the youth raised their voices with a clear role for female leaders, like Alaa Salah, who's image you referenced. They managed what the international community did not see through: The ousting of Omar al-Bashir, a dictator sought by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. 

SOUNDBITE (French), Marie-Christine VERGIAT (GUE/NGL, FR), The current military government must not be respected, only the Russians and the Saudis have recognized the government.

SOUNDBITE (English), Neena GILL (S&amp;D, UK), The EU and this house should show solidarity with peaceful demonstrations. And we should have concerns about two years length of transitional military council and need to work quickly to ensure that impartial media is set up and restrictions of the internet are lifted.