Joint motion for a resolution - RC-B6-0292/2007Joint motion for a resolution
RC-B6-0292/2007
European Parliament

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

11.7.2007

pursuant to Rule 115(5) of the Rules of Procedure, by
replacing the motions by the following groups: on Moldova

Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
RC-B6-0292/2007
Texts tabled :
RC-B6-0292/2007
Debates :
Votes :
Texts adopted :

European Parliament resolution on Moldova

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Moldova, and in Transnistria in particular,

–  having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Moldova and the European Union, which entered into force on 1 July 1998,

–  having regard to the Action Plan for Moldova adopted by the seventh EU-Moldova Cooperation Council meeting on 22 February 2005,

-   having regard to the interim resolution adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 1 March 2006 concerning the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) of 8 July 2004 in the case of Ilascu and others against Moldova and the Russian Federation,

–  having regard to the Declarations of the OSCE Summit in Istanbul of 1999 and the OSCE Ministerial Council in Oporto 2002,

–   having regard to the Geneva Convention of 1949 regarding the rights of dead people,

–  having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas the 1992 war in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova led to the establishment of a separatist, illegitimate and authoritarian regime in this region; the situation of the frozen conflict persists and human rights violations continue to be severe and widespread;

B.   whereas no final solution has yet been found to the Transnistrian conflict despite the above-mentioned international decisions, which leads to the continued deterioration of respect for human rights in this region;

C.  whereas the latest example of human rights violations in Transnistria is the case of Tudor Petrov-Popa and Andrei Ivantoc, who were subjected to degrading treatment and were prohibited from returning to their homes;

D.   whereas the arrest and detention under charges of terrorism of all the members of the so-called Ilascu group represented an illegal act of the Transnistrian separatist regime, and did not correspond to the international standards on principles of fair trial, rule of law, respect of the rights of prisoners and prevention of torture and inhuman treatment;

E.   whereas the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) of 8 July 2004 in the case of Ilascu and others against Moldova and the Russian Federation has not yet been implemented and has been completely ignored by the Transnistrian separatist regime;

F.   whereas the serious violation of human rights in Transnistria continues, particularly leading to the denial of the rights of Romanians with the closure of Romanian-language schools and the profanation of a Romanian cemetery in Transnistria, as well as the violation of the political rights and liberties of the whole population living in the area, resulting in widespread trafficking in human beings and organised crime;

G.   whereas the decisions of the OSCE Summit in Istanbul of 1999 and the OSCE Ministerial Council in Oporto 2002 have still not been implemented;

H.  whereas the European Union took important steps to enhance its engagement with the Republic of Moldova and the search for a resolution of the Transnistrian conflict by opening a permanent European Commission delegation in Chisinau, appointing an EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Moldova with a mandate to contribute to a sustainable settlement of the Transnistrian conflict and establishing an EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) to Moldova and Ukraine,

I.  whereas negotiations concerning Transnistria, a region of Moldova, have been ongoing since 1992, in the so called '5+2' Format, in which Moldova, the Transnistrian region of Moldova, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the OSCE have participated; whereas the EU and the United States of America became observers in 2005; whereas in April 2006 the negotiations broke down,

J.   having regard to Moldova's European aspirations and the fact that the situation in Transnistria is taking place in the immediate neighbourhood of the EU; recognising the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova and calling on all parties to work as a political priority for the reunification of the State;

1.  Strongly deplores the lack of respect for human rights and human dignity in Transnistria, as reflected by the trial and detention of the Ilascu Group, the denial of the liberties of the population living in that area, ignoring the right to access to information and education, resulting in widespread trafficking in human beings and organised crime;

2.  Welcomes the release of Mr. Andrei Ivantoc and Mr. Tudor Petrov-Popa, but deplores the fact that their release by the separatist regime of Tiraspol was declared as resulting from the expiry of their term of imprisonment, and not due to the implementation of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR); condemns the fact that Mr. Andrei Ivantoc was subjected to violence and attacks on his human dignity upon his release, as film footage taken by witnesses to his release testifies;

3.  Condemns the continued repression, harassment and intimidation of representatives of the independent media, NGOs and civil society by the Transnistrian separatist regime;

4.  Demands the cessation of deprivation of freedom of persons for political activity; in this respect condemns the arrest on 2 June 2007 and subsequent treatment of Mr Valentin Besleag, a mayoral candidate in legitimate local elections in Corjova;

5.  Calls for a rapid and final settlement to the frozen conflict in Transnistria, which will secure democracy and respect for human rights on the entire territory of the Republic of Moldova, in accordance with international principles;

6.  Emphasises the EU's firm commitment to the territorial integrity of Moldova; points out that the illegitimate regime of Tiraspol has no authority to stop Moldovan citizens from entering the territory of the left bank of the Nistru river and has no authority to issue 'persona non-grata' decisions;

7.   Calls upon the Commission and the Council to envisage measures of greater and comprehensive involvement in the process of negotiation and of solving the above-mentioned conflict; notes the successful joint EU border mission with Ukraine based in Odessa and calls on the Government of Ukraine to continue its support for the mission;

8.  Calls for a greater involvement of the EU in solving this conflict in its immediate neighbourhood, including the enhancement of the EU’s status to that of a negotiating partner;

9.  Reminds all parties that the seperatist regime of Transnistria allows organised crime, including trafficking in arms, in human beings, smuggling and money laundering activities to flourish; points out that this constitutes a considerable risk to the stability of the region;

10.  Calls for the immediate and full implementation of the conclusions of the OSCE Summit in Istanbul of 1999 and the OSCE Ministerial Council in Oporto 2002 and the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) of 8 July 2004 in the case of Ilascu and others against Moldova and the Russian Federation; calls on the EU to raise the issue of the withdrawal of the Russian troops from Transnistria within the framework of EU-Russia relations;

11.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of Moldova, the Government and Parliament of Russia and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.

Legal notice - Privacy policy