Rights of the Romanian minority in the Timoc valley (Serbia)

6.3.2009

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1694/09
by Călin Cătălin Chiriţă (PPE‑DE)
to the Commission

The Commission is to be congratulated on its efforts to promote human rights worldwide and on the progress achieved in this sense, inter alia in the framework of the stabilisation and association process for the countries of the western Balkans, including Serbia. The efforts of the EU institutions and of Serbia itself with a view to that country's accession at the earliest possible moment are to be supported. Nonetheless, there is a need to take urgent and comprehensive measures to ensure respect for the rights of the Romanian-speaking minority in the Timoc valley in Serbia, especially their rights to mother-tongue education, religious observance, recognition of their cultural identity and political representation on a proportionate basis.

The Romanian minority in the Timoc valley is a large traditional ethnic community with deep historical roots, whose members also appear in official documents under the historical designation of ‘Vlachs’. This term ‘Vlach’ (also ‘Wallach’) is synonymous with ‘Romanian’.

It is obvious that this minority should be covered by the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

What measures will the Commission take to ensure respect for the rights of the Romanian-speaking minority in the Timoc valley in Serbia?

OJ C 189, 13/07/2010