MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the right to education in the Transnistrian regio

4.2.2014 - (2014/2552(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Werner Schulz, Tarja Cronberg, Nicole Kiil-Nielsen, Raül Romeva i Rueda, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0128/2014

B7‑0137/2014

European Parliament resolution on the right to education in the Transnistrian regio

(2014/2552(RSP))

The European Parliament,

- 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 the Republic of Moldova adopted by the seventh EU-Moldova Cooperation Council meeting on 22 February 2005,

- having regard to the Association Agreement initialled by the EU and Moldova on 29 November 2013 on the occasion of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in the Republic of Moldova, and in the Transnistrian region in particular (12 July 2007, 26 October 2006, 16 March 2006),

- having regard to the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) of 19 October 2012 in the case of Catan and others against Moldova and the Russian federation

- having regard to Rule 122(5) and 110(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

 

A. whereas the Republic of Moldova has made great progress towards deepening its relations with the EU and the Association Agreement initialled in November 2013 is an opportunity for the entire country, including regions such as Transnistria or Gagauzia, to further deepen their relations to the EU and adopt European values and standards, while improving their economic perspectives,

B.     whereas the 1992 war in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova led to the establishment of an authoritarian regime in the region; whereas the situation of the frozen conflict persists and the situation of human rights continues to deteriorate,

C. whereas the 5+2 format negotiations have not led to a sustainable solution of the Transnistrian conflict with the full respect of the Republic of Moldova`s territorial integrity and sovereignty; whereas the new round of 5+2 negotiations has been provisionally agreed to take place on 27-28 February 2014 and constitutes a fresh opportunity to end the deadlock and achieve substantial progress,

D. whereas the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova ruled on 5 December 2013 that the country`s official language is Romanian,

E. whereas the so-called authorities in the Transnistrian region have launched an aggressive campaign against the last 8 Moldovan-administered schools that teach in the Romanian language, ranging from administrative pressures to declarations of the so-called Transnistrian authorities indicating that they will shut down those schools that refuse to recognize the authority of the separatist regime,

F. whereas many professors form the "Lucian Blaga" highschool in Tiraspol were subject to illegal interrogation by the separatist militia; whereas the bank accounts of the "Lucian Blaga" highschool in Tiraspol have been blocked by the so-called authorities of the Transnistrian region,

G. whereas the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) of 19 October 2012 in the case of Catan and others against Moldova and Russia indicated that there has been a violation of Article 2 of Protocol No. 1 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by the Russian Federation,

H. whereas in a report published in November 2012, the OSCE Mission to Moldova has found that the situation of the Latin-script schools in Transnistria remains urgent, issues of concern include rental contracts and conditions of premises, freedom of movement, transport of goods, health, safety and sanitary inspections, declining student populations, pressure or intimidation on parents and teachers, legal status, and the specific situations of the property in Ribnita and the schools formerly located in Grigoriopol and Dubasari,

I. whereas the last Universal Periodic Review submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Moldova on October 2011 notes that  the situation of Moldovan schools teaching in Latin script continues to be an unsolved issue, the teachers of these schools are under permanent pressure from the Transnistrian administration and the Transnistrian administration refuses to talk to Chisinau on issues connected to the situation of these schools,

J. whereas the so-called Transnistrian authorities have been limiting the OSCE'S mission access to the region and has forbidden access to the head of mission, starting with February 1^st,

1. Strongly deplores the lack of respect for human rights in Transnistria, the denial of the liberties of the population living in that area, ignoring the right to access to information and education in mother-tongue;

2. Stresses that the right of freedom of education is a fundamental right and calls for a full respect this right and the cessation of any form of pressure directed towards Romanian teaching institutions in the Transnsitrian region;

3.      Urges the de-facto authorities in the Transnitrian region to fully respect the right of education in mother-tongue;

4. Condemns the pressures on the "Lucian Blaga" highschool in Tiraspol launched in December 2013, as well as the blocking of the bank accounts of the teaching institution by the separatist regime;

5. Urges the Commission to find ways in order to support and assist the Latin-script schools in Transnistria;

6. Calls on the OSCE to defend the right to education of the students from the Latin-script schools in Transnistria; further calls on the so-called Transnistrian authorities to cooperate with the OSCE mission to Moldova and allow the access to its territory;

7. Calls on the Russian Federation to fully implement the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights that ruled that Russia violated the right to education in the cases of Moldovan schools using Latin in the region of Transnistria,

8. Calls for a comprehensive settlement of the frozen conflict in Transnistria, with the full respect of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova within its international recognized borders;

9. 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;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the High Representative, the Council, the Commission, the Government and Parliament of Moldova, the Government of Romania, the Government of Ukraine, the Government of the Russian Federation, the Government of the USA, the Secretary-General of the OSCE and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.