P6_TA(2006)0099

Human rights in Moldova and in Transnistria in particular

European Parliament resolution on human rights in Moldova, and in Transnistria in particular

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Moldova, in particular that of 18 December 2003 [1], that of 24 February 2005 [2] on the parliamentary elections in Moldova and that of 28 April 2005 on the Annual Report on Human Rights in the World (2004) and the EU's policy on the matter [3],

- having regard to the Final Statement and Recommendations of the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Cooperation Committee meeting of 6 and 7 October 2005,

- having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Moldova and the European Union (EU), which was signed on 28 November 1994 and entered into force on 1 July 1998,

- having regard to the statements of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) 1999 Summit in Istanbul and the 2002 OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Oporto,

- 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 OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission Final Report on the parliamentary elections of 6 March 2005, which elections complied in general with most of the commitments made to the OSCE with the standards laid down by the Council of Europe and other international bodies for democratic elections despite the shortcomings identified regarding campaign conditions and access to the media,

- having regard to Council Decision 2006/96/CFSP implementing Common Position 2004/179/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against the leadership of the Transnistrian region of Moldova [4] and Council Common Position 2006/95/CFSP [5] renewing these restrictive measures for a further period of 12 months,

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

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

A. whereas the European Neighbourhood Policy recognises Moldova's European aspirations and the importance of Moldova as a country with deep historical, cultural and economic links to the Member States,

B. whereas within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy an Action Plan has been adopted which includes proposals aimed at encouraging the political and institutional reforms which will enable Moldova to integrate progressively into EU policies and programmes,

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

D. whereas Transnistria declared independence in 1992, after an armed conflict involving Russian military support, thereby destabilising the entire country,

E. whereas there are concerns, notably with regard to Transnistria, about the serious level of criminal activity, the pervasiveness of corruption throughout society, the existence of a deeply rooted unofficial economy and the lack of respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights,

F. whereas the self-proclaimed Transnistrian authorities continue to harass the independent media and NGOs, and to discriminate against and persecute the Romanian-speaking population,

G. whereas the self-proclaimed Transnistrian authorities continue to refuse to comply with the ECHR ruling requiring them to put an end to the unlawful and arbitrary detention of Mr Andrei Ivantoc and Mr Tudor Petrov-Popa,

H. whereas Andrei Ivantoc has reportedly been on hunger strike since 27 February 2006 in protest at the inhuman and degrading treatment meted out by the employees of the penitentiary in Tiraspol,

1. Strongly condemns the repression, harassment and intimidation by the Transnistrian regime of representatives of the independent media, citizens criticising the self-proclaimed Transnistrian authorities and members of NGOs and of the opposition; condemns the prohibition of funding of NGOs by foreign donors; deplores the unwillingness of the regime to engage fully in efforts to reach a peaceful and comprehensive solution to the Transnistria conflict; welcomes, therefore, the extension of the EU visa ban on members of the Transnistrian regime;

2. Deeply deplores the fact that the self-proclaimed Transnistrian authorities, more than one and a half years after delivery of the judgment of the ECHR in the case of Ilaşcu and others, continue to keep two of the applicants in that case imprisoned; notes that, in its judgment, the ECHR held in particular that the two respondent States were to take all necessary measures to put an end to the arbitrary detention of the applicants still imprisoned and secure their immediate release;

3. Calls on the Moldovan authorities to continue their efforts towards putting an end to the unlawful and arbitrary detention of Mr Andrei Ivantoc and Mr Tudor Petrov-Popa and securing their immediate release; strongly urges the Russian authorities actively to explore all effective avenues capable of putting an end to the unlawful and arbitrary detention of both prisoners and of securing their immediate release; calls on the Council, the Commission and the Member States to plea for the immediate release of those prisoners;

4. Calls on the Moldovan authorities, with regard to the high-profile and controversial conviction of former Defence Minister Valeriu Pasat, to ensure that the appeal process will be allowed to proceed in a transparent fashion in accordance with international legal norms;

5. Expresses its strong and continuing support for the efforts of the Moldovan authorities to successfully implement the Action Plan as part of the EU's Neighbourhood Policy; calls on the Commission and the Council to support the Moldovan authorities in their democratisation process and to use all diplomatic means to weaken the authoritarian and illegal regime in Transnistria;

6. Urges the Moldovan Government to continue the process of reforms so as to strengthen the rule of law and redress corruption in the institutions in compliance with the commitments stemming from the Action Plan, and to step up efforts in the fight against any trafficking in human beings;

7. Takes note of the Law on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Persons, enacted on 20 October 2005, which provides for free social services for victims of trafficking; calls on the Moldovan authorities to provide further clarification as to the way in which implementation of the Law will be funded; stresses the importance of providing additional funding and staff for advisory bodies on trafficking in women, and of greater cooperation on the part of NGOs active in this field;

8. Welcomes the constructive cooperation between the different political parties in the Moldovan Parliament; recognises the importance of the reforms regarding the independence of the judiciary, the intelligence services, legislation on elections and the Court of Auditors; calls for the reinforcement of Moldova's judicial capacity; underlines the importance of the implementation of these and other reforms without delay;

9. Is convinced that reforms in Moldova will be successful only when they are carried out with respect for the rule of law and fundamental freedoms; urges all the parties concerned, including members of civil society, to work together to foster the further development of the country's democracy;

10. Welcomes the implementation of the Joint Declaration on Customs of the Ukrainian and Moldovan Prime Ministers of 30 December 2005; calls on economic agents in the Transnistrian region of Moldova to register with the relevant authorities in Chisinau in order to promote the unimpeded flow of goods across the border; calls on the self-proclaimed Transnistrian authorities not to block such registration;

11. Welcomes the deployment of the EUBAM to Moldova and Ukraine, which may contribute to wider efforts to find a viable and sustainable solution to the Transnistria conflict; stresses that better border controls are an essential element in bringing the conflict to an end, including by limiting the arms trade;

12. Calls on the Commission, the Council and the EUSR for Moldova to make every effort to prevent any escalation of the present border crisis;

13. Takes note of the positive, though in certain respects critical, declaration by the Moldovan Parliament on the Ukrainian initiative to settle the Transnistria conflict; calls on all the parties involved to fully engage themselves in the 5 + 2 negotiations in which Moldova, the Transnistrian region of Moldova, Russia, Ukraine and the OSCE are participating with the EU and the United States of America as observers, and to come to a political settlement of the Transnistria conflict;

14. Calls on Russia immediately to discontinue its support for the Transnistrian regime, to reaffirm its commitment to Moldova's territorial integrity as defined by the Moldovan Constitution and unconditionally to withdraw its troops, including their heavy weaponry and munitions; stresses that, under the decision taken at the 1999 OSCE Summit in Istanbul, the troops should have been withdrawn by the end of 2002; calls on the Council to include this item on the agenda of the next EU-Russia summit;

15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to 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 United States of America, the Secretary-General of the OSCE and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.

[1] OJ C 91 E, 15.4.2004, p. 692.

[2] OJ C 304 E, 1.12.2005, p. 398.

[3] OJ C 45 E, 23.2.2006, p. 107.

[4] OJ L 44, 15.2.2006, p. 32.

[5] OJ L 44, 15.2.2006, p. 31.

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