The Parliament's resolution should underline the fact that the return of misappropriated assets stolen by former dictators and their regimes goes beyond its economic significance. The return of such assets is a moral imperative and a highly political issue due to its symbolism as a matter of restoring justice and accountability, in the spirit of democracy and the rule of law.
This issue represents an essential part of the Union's support for democratic transition and economic recovery in the countries concerned and can strengthen mutual confidence between both sides in the spirit of partnership with societies, a cornerstone of the reviewed European Neighbourhood Policy.
Therefore, the resolution should call for the establishment - without delay - of an EU mechanism composed of a team of investigators, prosecutors, lawyers and other experts from member states, other European countries and the United States, with the aim of providing legal and technical advice and assistance to Arab Spring countries in the process of asset recovery. And moreover, request that this mechanism be duly financed by the relevant financial instrument within the field of the Union's external relations.