Debate&nbsp;on the Massacres in eastern Congo, during the EP plenary session (22- 23 June 2016) in Brussels. Statements by Tibor NAVRACSICS, Member of the EC in charge of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Mariya GABRIEL (EPP, HR), Giovanni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), Mark DEMESMAEKER (ECR, BE), Maria Lidia SENRA RODR&Iacute;GUEZ (GUE/NGL, ES) and&nbsp;Jordi SEBASTI&Agrave; (Greens/EFA, ES).

Brussels

debate

plenary session

EU - Democratic Republic of the Congo (T)

PITTELLA, Gianni (S&D, IT)

GABRIEL, Mariya (EPP, BG, EC)

DEMESMAEKER, Mark (ECR, BE)

NAVRACSICS, Tibor (HU, EC)

SENRA RODRÍGUEZ, Maria Lidia (GUE/NGL, ES)

SEBASTIA TALAVERA, Jordi Vicent (Greens/EFA, ES)

Massacres in eastern Congo: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Tibor NAVRACSICS, Member of the EC in charge of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, While understanding the root causes of violence and instabilities is important, it does not excuse perpetrators who must submit to the rule of law, this applies equally to incitement of violence and hate speech and it is individual's not entire communities and ethnic groups who account for their actions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Tibor NAVRACSICS, Member of the EC in charge of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, For armed groups to put out of action an effective and operational level of cooperation between the Congolese armed and MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or MONUSCO) is needed and it is needed quickly. Agreement in principle was already reached in February but it needs to be put into practice.

SOUNDBITE (French), Mariya GABRIEL (EPP, HR), Firstly all light needs to shed on the massacres in the East of DRC and the perpetrators must be brought to justice. It is very important for the cooperation to be resumed between the DRC and Monusco, so that Monusco can use its broadened mandate to the fall. We also shouldn't lose sights to fight against impunity; we need to make sure that the reform of the Justice sector is brought to full conclusion.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Giovanni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), We are asking the institutions to set up an independent commission of inquiry at international level which should investigate on those responsible on the massacre. Secondly we ask for involvement of the International Criminal Court, with respect of what had happened in Beni. 3. We would like to have an evaluation report in the part of the UN Monusco Mission and in particular we should ask the UN to make full use of the mandate that had been given to it, to protect civilians.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Mark DEMESMAEKER (ECR, BE), It is a step forward that the EU has recognised that mineral trading is one of the causes of the conflict. Companies importing certain minerals must now demonstrate that they are not indirectly involved in violent acts, but we need to go further, but the EU must commit further to recover and negotiations.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Maria Lidia SENRA RODR&#205;GUEZ (GUE/NGL, ES), The EU should also have an independent investigation on European Multi-Nationals with respect to infringement to social and environmental rights and also its links with financing of armed groups.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Jordi SEBASTI&#192; (Greens/EFA, ES), More ambitious calls in the declaration in particularly with regard to the work being done by Monusco, this stabilisation force in the field in the DRC. This body has been criticised by many spectators as being passive in its role and defending the population in the particular case of these massacres. This is what we are calling for in this resolution an investigation into these events, that has to be brought to fruit, we have see who is responsible and bring them to justice.