Die Präsidentin. – Als nächster Punkt folgt die Aussprache über sechs Entschließungsanträge zu Eritrea, insbesondere die Fälle von Abune Antonios und Dawit Isaak (2017/2755(RSP)).
Bodil Valero,författare. – Fru talman! Jag väljer att tala om den svenska medborgaren Dawit Isaak som sitter fängslad utan rättegång i Eritrea.
I skuggan av terrorattackerna i USA den 11 september 2001 passade Eritreas president på att sätta stopp för all kritik av landets ledning. Den oberoende pressen stängdes, politiker, statstjänstemän och minst 11 journalister fängslades utan rättegång, bland dem Dawit Isaak.
Brotten mot de mänskliga rättigheterna i Eritrea upphör inte trots alla påtryckningar från omvärlden.
Engagemanget för Dawits frigivning är starkt i Sverige. Enligt ett reportage i Dagens Nyheter 2010 levde Dawit som fånge nr 36 i ett ödsligt beläget fängelse, kedjad under jord. Cellerna uppges vara fuktiga, överfulla och hälsovådliga. Fångarna har dålig tillgång till vatten och svälter men det viktigaste i artikeln kan ändå sägas vara att det från trovärdiga källor bekräftades att Dawit Isaak då ännu var vid liv.
Samma år uttalade en företrädare för den eritreanska regimen att Dawit Isaak inte någonsin kan påräkna rättegång, eftersom han av regimen tillsammans med andra fångar påstås utgöra ett hot mot nationen Eritreas existens.
Dawit familj lever i total ovisshet, så också vi andra. Därför är den här resolutionen så viktig idag.
Soraya Post, author. – Madam President, the S&D Group is committed to working for the observance of all fundamental human rights. That is why we initiated this resolution. We are seeing an increase in violence directed against journalists and democracy and human-rights activists across the world.
Sixteen years have passed – that is how long Dawit Isaak and other journalists and democracy activists have been imprisoned in Eritrea. Dawit has become a symbol for the struggle for human rights and press freedom. But for many people he is more than a symbol. Back home in Sweden, where he has his loved ones, he is dearly missed, as are the other imprisoned journalists.
Sixteen years have passed, and this is our message to the Eritrean Government: at least let us hear from him!
Our message to the Commission is: hear us! This Parliament has repeatedly stated that no development cooperation can be pursued with the Eritrean Government as long as they do not respect human rights and set Dawit Isaak and others free. Yet major aid to Eritrea under the European Development Fund has been resumed and a EUR 200 million National Indicative Programme has been signed off.
Our resolution denounces this renewal of business as usual. This money cannot go to the Eritrean Government. It must be used to promote democracy and human rights, in the hands of civil society, with not a single cent to the regime.
We will not forget about Dawit Isaak and others. We will not let them down.
Cecilia Wikström,författare. – Fru talman! Han är en svensk och eritreansk journalist som varit fängslad i mer än 15 år utan vare sig advokat eller rättegång. Helt avskuren från sin familj. Han är EU:s ende samvetsfånge. Han heter Dawit Isaak.
Dawit visade ett fantastiskt mod som journalist. Med fara för sitt eget liv vågade han stå upp för sina medmänniskor och berätta deras historier och livsöden. Pennan var det som var hans vapen när han stred för yttrandefrihet och andra mänskliga rättigheter. Idag är han fängslad.
Eritreas brott mot mänskligheten får inte fortgå ostört. Det är hög tid nu för den svenska regeringen och för EU-kommissionen att äntligen använda kännbara påtryckningsmedel mot Eritrea.
Vi måste införa reseförbud till EU för ledande personer i Eritreas regim. Vi måste stoppa den illegala skatteindrivningen av EU-medborgare med eritreansk ursprung som pågår i medlemsländerna och ställa krav på att mänskliga rättigheter äntligen ska respekteras i Eritrea.
Att stå upp och försvara demokrati och mänskliga fri- och rättigheter är vårt viktigaste uppdrag i EU. På hemmaplan och i hela världen. Tillsammans kan vi bryta ner de mäktigaste väggarna av förtryck och motstånd.
Dawit Isaaks modiga kamp mot diktatur förtjänar att tilldelas Sacharovpriset det här året, och det tänker jag nominera honom för.
Nu är det vårt ansvar att använda vår röst, den röst som Dawit Isaak har berövats.
(Talaren godtog att besvara en fråga (”blått kort”) i enlighet med artikel 162.8 i arbetsordningen.)
Ana Gomes (S&D), blue-card question. – Ms Wikström, you said that Dawit Isaak was Europe’s only prisoner of conscience. That is not true, you know, because elsewhere there are other such cases – for instance in Ethiopia, where the British Ethiopian citizen Andy Tsege has been kidnapped and is in prison. No matter how much solidarity I have with you on the fate of Dawit Isaak, it is incorrect to say that he is the only one.
Cecilia Wikström (ALDE), blue-card answer. – I don’t think we should quarrel about this. Dawit Isaak has been a prisoner of conscience for a very long time – more than 15, almost 16 years – and if there is now another one, then it is even worse. So let us join forces and fight for both of them. If there are any more prisoners of conscience, it is only proof that we have not done enough.
Charles Tannock, author. – Madam President, given the brutal regime of President Afwerki in Eritrea and his role in ruining that country’s prospects, following its independence from Ethiopia in 1991, we often focus on the wider diplomatic picture. But today we are focusing on two individuals, Abune Antonios and Dawit Isaak.
Antonios, the Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, has been under house arrest for the past decade. Isaak, a naturalised Swede and a journalist, has been in jail for more than 15 years and has not been seen since 2005. Jailed for his reporting of the corruption and injustices of the Afwerki regime, his case is emblematic of the totalitarian dictatorship that we now see in Eritrea, a regime that sees thousands of young men fleeing conscription and the brutalities of daily life. With 416 000 Eritrean refugees worldwide, this makes it the ninth largest country of origin for refugees, a staggering figure for a country with a population of only 6 million people.
Therefore I now call on Parliament and the Commission to consider consultation under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. I actually called for this almost 18 years ago for the first time and I am calling for it again.
Marie-Christine Vergiat, auteure. – Madame la Présidente, oui, Dawit Isaak est un symbole. Journaliste suédo-érythréen, il a été arrêté en septembre 2001 parmi des dizaines d’autres, au moment où le pays a sombré dans la dictature. En Érythrée, il n’existe plus aucune presse libre depuis cette date.
Abune Antonios, ancien patriarche de l’Église orthodoxe, est un autre symbole. Il a été emprisonné en 2016 pour avoir refusé d’excommunier 3 000 de ses paroissiens qui s’opposaient au régime.
Depuis quelques mois, les choses semblent s’aggraver.
(La présidente interrompt l’oratrice)
President. – What is the problem?
Tomáš Zdechovský (PPE). – Madam President, there is no interpretation into Czech, so I do not know if the system is functioning.
President. – It is working now. Ms Vergiat, you get another 20 to 30 seconds.
Marie-Christine Vergiat, auteure. – Madame la Présidente, au moins 30 secondes parce que c’était à peine à 30 quand j’ai été interrompue. Il faut que je retrouve où j’en suis, d’ailleurs. Je recommence une phrase, je suis désolée, soyez indulgente.
Depuis quelques mois, les choses semblent s’aggraver. La rapporteure spéciale de l’ONU parle de violations systématiques et généralisées pouvant constituer des crimes contre l’humanité. C’est ce moment que choisit l’Union européenne pour faire de l’Érythrée un partenaire du projet «Better Migration Management» et lui octroyer 46 millions d’euros, plus 5 millions via le programme ROCK destiné à la formation de policiers et de garde-frontières.
On nous dit que le gouvernement érythréen ne profitera pas directement de ces fonds. Permettez-moi d’être sceptique, c’est simplement impossible dans ce pays de faire quoi que ce soit sans passer par le gouvernement. Quelle sera la prochaine étape? L’expulsion d’Érythréens vers leur pays d’origine? L’Union ne peut continuer à cautionner les régimes qui sont à l’origine même des migrations.
Lars Adaktusson, author. – Madam President, Eritrea is one of the most ruthless dictatorships in the world. President Isaias Afwerki has imposed a rule of fear through extreme abuses against his own people. The evil acts of Afwerki amount to crimes against humanity. He has jailed at least 10 000 political prisoners.
Today we are focusing on two of these prisoners – two innocent individuals whose lives have been destroyed by Afwerki. Let us never give up the struggle for Dawit Isaak and Abune Antonios. Let us never forget their remarkable courage.
Right now three measures are crucial: aid to Eritrea has to be strictly conditional; the illegal diaspora tax has to be halted in all EU Member States; and Afwerki and his patrons should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity.
The brave people of Eritrea deserve to live in freedom. We have a responsibility to assist them towards a brighter future.
Tomáš Zdechovský, za skupinu PPE. – Paní předsedající, já bych chtěl říct, že situace v Eritreji je dlouhodobě vážná. Odstrašující je především politický stav země, která nedodržuje žádné mezinárodní smlouvy. Neexistuje systém národních voleb, nezávislého soudního systému či právního státu, což je pro mě jednoznačným důkazem toho, že to je největší autoritářský režim na světě. Proto naprosto souhlasím s přístupem Evropské unie a jsem přesvědčen, že je zapotřebí zavést ještě silnější opatření.
Jytte Guteland, för S&D-gruppen. – Fru talman! Den här klockan visar den stulna tiden från Dawit Isaak. Det är nära 16 år av fångenskap, nära 16 år av ovisshet och oro för hans nära och kära.
Europaparlamentet enas här idag för att sätta press på Eritreas regering att agera. Vi har sagt det förr, och vi säger det igen. Vi uppmanar Eritrea att omedelbart bekräfta Dawit Isaaks välbefinnande. Frige honom. Sätt honom i samband med juridiska ombud och framförallt med hans familj.
Ord och löften räcker inte. Nu krävs det handling. Vi måste få veta att han lever och mår bra. Vi kräver också att frihetsberövanden av opposition, journalister och oskyldiga civila upphör. Här, fru talman, 5764 dagar, 23 timmar, elva minuter och nu också 6 sekunder. Så här länge har Dawit Isaaks tid stulits från honom. Det räcker nu.
Catch-the-eye-Verfahren
Jiří Pospíšil (PPE). – Já chci podpořit toto usnesení, které dnes přijímáme. Týká se dvou vězňů svědomí, pana Antoniose a pana Isaaka, ale je třeba říci, že celkově režim v Eritreji patří dnes k nejhorším na světě. Je to režim, který porušuje vůbec základní lidská práva, víceméně vůči občanům se chová stylem, že občané jsou vnímáni jako otroci, kteří musí povinně nastoupit do armády bez uvedení doby, po kterou musí v armádě sloužit. Jsou tam katastrofické podmínky likvidace politické opozice, novinářů, představitelů duchovní sféry a je dobře, že to usnesení, které dnes přijímáme, se zabývá myšlenkou, že bychom opravdu měli zrušit ekonomickou podporu této země, protože peníze, které tam posíláme, stejně ukradne korupční vláda, korupční prezident a mezi obyvatele se nedostanou. Takže to usnesení vítám a jsem rád, že vedle osudu dvou vězňů, který tu byl podrobně popsán, hodnotíme celkově situaci v této nešťastné zemi.
Ana Gomes (S&D). – O jornalista eritreu-sueco Dawit Isaak é um dos milhares de prisioneiros na Eritreia sobre os quais nada sabemos. O venerado patriarca Antonios ousou protestar contra prisões arbitrárias e foi destituído e feito desaparecer. O regime de Isaias Afwerki submete há anos o povo eritreu a um regime de terror, com tortura, detenções arbitrárias, desaparecimentos, recrutamento militar indefinido, trabalho forçado, etc.. Não admira que tantos eritreus arrisquem a vida em perigosas travessias em busca de refúgio.
Em vez de trabalhar estrategicamente com outros parceiros para aliviar o sofrimento dos eritreus e acolher os que fogem, a União Europeia negociou com o Governo de Isaias Afwerki 200 milhões de euros do FED para investimentos sem condicionalidade para travar o surto de refugiados. Esta política não é apenas um desperdício de dinheiro público, é uma traição aos valores que deviam nortear a nossa política externa e de desenvolvimento para fazer a diferença pelos eritreus e isso implica promover a transformação democrática na Eritreia.
Νότης Μαριάς (ECR). – Κυρία Πρόεδρε, η κατάσταση στην Ερυθραία είναι πλέον εκτός ελέγχου λόγω των πολιτικών διώξεων στις οποίες προβαίνει το καθεστώς, αλλά και λόγω της απεριόριστης αναγκαστικής στρατιωτικής θητείας. Έτσι, πάνω από 400.000 άτομα, ήτοι το 9% του πληθυσμού της χώρας, έχουν φύγει άρον-άρον από την Ερυθραία, αυξάνοντας τις προσφυγικές ροές προς την Ευρώπη. Η σεξουαλική βία, όχι μόνο κατά των γυναικών αλλά και στα στρατόπεδα εκπαίδευσης, είναι στην ημερήσια διάταξη. Ταυτόχρονα, το καθεστώς ολοκληρώνει τον έλεγχό του κατά του πληθυσμού, επιβάλλοντας φόρο εισοδήματος ομογενών 2%.
Θύματα του καθεστώτος είναι ο Abune Antonios, ο πατριάρχης της Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας της Ερυθραίας, της μεγαλύτερης θρησκευτικής κοινότητας, ο οποίος έχει τεθεί υπό κράτηση εδώ και δέκα χρόνια, από το 2007, επειδή αρνήθηκε να αφορίσει 3.000 μέλη της ενορίας του, που αντιτάχθηκαν στην κυβέρνηση. Επίσης, ο ακτιβιστής Dawit Isaak είναι και αυτός υπό κράτηση. Άμεση απελευθέρωση όλων των πολιτικών κρατουμένων!
Seán Kelly (PPE). – A Uachtaráin, is í an Eiritré an tír is measa ar domhan ó thaobh cearta daonna de agus tá sé ag éirí níos measa de réir na bliana. Tá gach saghas éagóir ar siúl ann, go háirithe le mná agus leanaí agus ní nach ionadh go bhfuil daoine ag teitheadh ón dtír. Tá 400,000 duine tar éis an tír a fhágáil. Freisin, maidir le Dawit Isaak, gabhadh é in 2001. An bhfuil sé beo? Níl a fhios againn, ach tá sé de dhualgas ar an rialtas insint dá chlann agus do chuile dhuine mar gheall air. Freisin mar gheall ar an Patrarc Antonios. Tá sé i bpríosún ó 2007 in áit anaithnid agus deirtear nach bhfuil cóir leighis ar fáil aige.
Dá bhrí sin is dóigh liom gur cheart dúinne gan aon airgead a thabhairt don Eiritré. Táimid ag tabhairt €200 milliún dóibh agus is dóigh liom gur cheart cosc a chur air sin go dtí go bhfaighimid freagra ar na ceisteanna seo.
Doru-Claudian Frunzulică (S&D). – Madam President, regretfully we do not see any improvement with regard to human rights violations in Eritrea. A huge number of Eritrean people, including children, are still being arrested for various unjustifiable reasons and held in extremely harsh conditions.
Dawit Isaak’s incarceration has become an international symbol for the struggle for freedom of the press in Eritrea. He should be immediately and unconditionally released, together with all prisoners of conscience.
In addition, Abune Antonios should be allowed to return to his position as Patriarch. Freedom of religion is a fundamental right, and any violence or discrimination on the grounds of religion must be condemned.
Commissioner, as you know, as chair of Working Group A of the Committee on Development, I oppose the granting of money under the National Indicative Programme for Eritrea until these issues are resolved: until the prisoners are released, the Patriarch is reinstated and this autocratic dictatorship, which is not acceptable, has come to an end.
Stanislav Polčák (PPE). – Paní předsedající, já chci podotknout, že souhlasím se všemi svými předřečníky a nebudu popisovat tu situaci v Eritreji tak, jak už byla řečena.
Eritrea je jeden z nejmladších států, ale ta, která se potýká s nejhorším porušováním lidských práv, s masivním, různým porušováním lidských práv. Myslím si, že ten návrh, který padl a je obsažen v usnesení, aby ta pomoc byla podmíněně zastavena, ten si myslím, že je velmi, velmi pádný.
My bychom měli chtít, aby za peníze, které poskytuje Evropská unie, byly konkrétně měřitelné efekty v určitých krocích. Není možné posílat peníze za situace, kdy nedostáváme odpovědi na naše otázky. A to usnesení, které se týká pouze dvou lidí, samozřejmě ti jsou těmi, kteří jsou takto nasvíceni, ale je dalších bezejmenných tisíce a tisíce lidí, kteří trpí pod režimem, jehož jedinou hlavní silou je naverbovat desetinu svých občanů do své armády. To si myslím, že by mělo být zásadní memento pro nás.
Jean-Paul Denanot (S&D). – Madame la Présidente, la population érythréenne vit un calvaire depuis trop longtemps. Dans le huis clos de ce pays qui a récemment acquis son indépendance se joue un drame humain et politique.
Dawit Isaak est devenu un symbole international, mais beaucoup d’autres citoyens, notamment des femmes, souffrent de la privation de leurs droits fondamentaux et subissent des violences.
Il n’y a pas d’autre terme que celui d’«esclavagisme» pour décrire ce que subissent les 400 000 personnes actuellement enrôlées d’office dans ce que les autorités locales appellent pudiquement «service national».
L’Union européenne accompagne de façon significative l’Érythrée – avec un financement autour de 200 millions d’euros – et a le droit, me semble-t-il, mais aussi le devoir, d’agir, en subordonnant son aide au respect minimum des droits de l’homme.
J’invite, par ailleurs, les États membres à accueillir les Érythréens demandeurs d’asile, qui seraient condamnés à l’enfer en cas de retour dans leur pays.
Brian Hayes (PPE). – Madam President, the issue of human-rights violations in Eritrea is a serious issue, but it is no more serious than the situation in a whole host of countries in Africa that we continue to support. I think it is very important that, in this motion, we once again send a clear message to the Eritrean Government in relation to those human-rights violations.
Unlike other colleagues, I still believe that engagement with Eritrea is important. It is a country caught in a time warp. It is a country that needs to understand the obligations under international law that we, as EU citizens, demand. That is why I went to Eritrea last year. I suspect that I am the only member of this assembly speaking here today who has actually been to Eritrea in the past 12 months. I would ask other colleagues to do the same because it is only through engagement that we can actually change policy in Eritrea. It is only through reaching out that we can change policy in Eritrea.
I want to put on the record that the EU funds that have come through the development budget have made a big difference to the lives of ordinary people – ordinary Eritreans – in terms of solar power, electricity connectivity, building capacity within the judicial system and in other systems of government. It is important that we remain committed to funding Eritrea and that we have a more balanced approach in this whole debate.
(Ende des Catch-the-eye-Verfahrens)
Christos Stylianides,Member of the Commission. – Madam President, there is no doubt that I share the honourable Members’ frustration about the situation in Eritrea, and maybe if I still had my former position as an MEP I would say that enough is enough, but now I am on the other side in this plenary.
The European Union is concerned over continued human-rights violations in Eritrea and, in particular, about the cases of His Holiness Abune Antonios and Dawit Isaak. Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is, for all of us, a core value of the European Union and a key priority in EU internal and external policy. It therefore features regularly in our political dialogue with the Eritrean authorities.
The case of Dawit Isaak has been of major concern since his arbitrary arrest in September 2001. His continued detention since then, without charges, trial or legal counsel, represents a serious violation of international obligations by Eritrea. The same applies in respect of the other 10 independent journalists, and honourable Members have already focused on this. We are also worried about the situation of His Holiness Abune Antonios, Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, who marks his tenth year of incommunicado house arrest in an unknown location, although he has never been charged with any offence.
We regularly address these issues at the highest level of the Government of Eritrea and draw attention to them in international forums, including the United Nations Human Rights Council. Since 2001, the EU has regularly issued statements calling for the immediate and unconditional release of political prisoners in Eritrea. The Union also regularly asks the Eritrean authorities to take all necessary steps to comply with their international commitments, including on freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression, association and assembly.
In line with the resolution of the UN Human Rights Council on the human-rights situation in Eritrea which was adopted in June this year, the EU continues to engage with Eritrea with a view to improving the human-rights situation on the ground. The EU will support the full implementation of the recommendations made to Eritrea under the UN-led Universal Periodic Review. The EU will continue to press for an improvement in the human-rights situation in Eritrea and urge the Government of Eritrea to release the political prisoners, including Dawit Isaak.
Moreover, the EU shall request that all information on the whereabouts of these prisoners is made public and that they have access to their families and lawyers, not least on humanitarian grounds. At the same time, the EU will continue to promote freedom of religion or belief – a right that should be exercised everywhere by all – on the basis of the principles of universality, equality and non-discrimination.
Die Präsidentin . – Die Aussprache ist geschlossen.
Die Abstimmung findet im Anschluss an die Aussprache statt.
Marie-Christine Vergiat (GUE/NGL). – Madame la Présidente, je voudrais faire remarquer à Monsieur le Commissaire que nous avons été nombreux à l’interroger sur la question des fonds alloués par l’Union européenne et que nous n’avons obtenu aucune réponse en la matière. Je trouve cela dommage.
Die Präsidentin. – Herr Kommissar! Haben Sie noch eine Antwort auf die Frage der Finanzierung, die Madame Vergiat jetzt noch mal angesprochen hat?
Christos Stylianides,Member of the Commission. – Madam President, I am not ready to answer these questions today. I can, of course, respect this request but it is difficult to give an immediate answer. I would like to give a written answer.
President. – Thank you. We will expect your answer.