19. NotesthattheCommission’saction‘Netd@ysEurope’associatesEuropeancinemawithschools;
believesthatitwouldbeadvantageousinthisconnection,towidenthescopeofsuchprojectssoastoencouragecooperation,forexample,throughschoolfilms,introductionstothemediaprofessionsandinvitationsaddressedtofilmdirectorstovisitschoolsas‘guestspeakers’,etc.FurtherproposesthattheMEDIAPlusprogrammeshouldcontributeinraisingpupils’awarenessandinterestinEuropeancinema;PointsoutthataPan-EuropeanChildren’sNetworkwouldbeanefficientwaytodisseminateandraiseawarenessofEuropeanfilmsofhighquality;
20. CallsontheMemberStatestopromotecollaborationbetweenteachersandartistswithaviewto
encouragingpupilstolearnabouttheperformingartsatschoolinaEuropeancontext;
21. Urgestheimprovementofqualityandaccesstothepedagogicalservicesofmuseums,theatres,
librariesandotherculturalstructures;callsonschoolstoopenthemselvesuptotheseculturalcentresandinstitutions,contactsandexchangeswhichcanonlybemutuallybeneficial;
22. Emphasisesthatchildren’sparticipationinartisticandculturalactivitiesisanimportantfactorin
developingtheircreativeskillsandthatthedevelopmentofcreativepotentialbenefitstheirfuturepersonalandprofessionallives;stresses,inthisconnection,theimportanceofcooperationbetweenschoolsandhomesingreatlyhelpingtoachievethisobjective;
23. WelcomesthefactthatthereisagrowingrecognitionatalllevelsintheEUthattheeducational
andprofessionalsuccessofindividualsdependsondevelopmentofschoolcurricula whichvaluebothacademicandcreativeabilitiesalike;
24. Urgesschools,homes,culturalinstitutionsandcreativeartistsandintellectualstocooperatemore
closelyinthefieldofculturaleducation;urgesschoolstotakegreateradvantageoftheopportunitiesofferedbythediverseculturalbackgroundsoftheirpupilsforthepurposesofculturaleducation;
25. Stressestheimportanceofpupilexchangeschemes,classtripstoothercountriesandlanguage
teachinginbecomingacquaintedwithandexperiencingEuropeanandnon-Europeanculturesandthere-forecallsontheMemberStateandEuropeanUnionauthoritiestopromotesuchinitiativestoagreaterdegree;
26. Considersthatmusic,fineartsandtheatreareafundamentalcomponentoftheculturesandhistory
oftheindividualMemberStatesandofEurope’sculturalheritageandthereforerecommendsthesedis-ciplinesaregivenahigherpriorityinschooleducation;
27. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission,and the
governmentsoftheMemberStates.
P5_TA(2004)0121
EU-Russiarelations
EuropeanParliamentrecommendationtotheCouncilonEU-Russiarelations(2003/2230(INI))
TheEuropeanParliament ,
/dash havingregardtothePartnershipandCo-operationAgreement(PCA)betweentheEuropeanUnion
andRussia,whichenteredintoforceon1December1997,
/dash havingregardtotheCommonStrategyoftheEuropeanUniononRussia,theperiodofapplicationof
whichhasbeenextendedto24June2004,C98E/182 EN23.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
/dash having regard to the Commission’s Country Strategy Paper and the TACIS National Indicative
ProgrammeforRussia,
/dash havingregardtothepreliminaryconclusionsdrawnbytheInternationalElectionObservationMission
ontheStateDumaelectionsintheRussianFederationon7December2003,
/dash havingregardtorecentactionbytheRussianjudiciaryagainstYukosandtheOpenSocietyInstitute,
/dash havingregardtothePresidencyConclusionsoftheBrusselsEuropeanCouncilof12December2003,
inparticulartotherequesttotheCouncilandtheCommissiontodrawupassessmentreportsonall
aspectsoftheUnion’srelationshipwithRussia,
/dash having regard to the Commission communication on ‘Wider Europe /dash Neighbourhood: A New
FrameworkforRelationswithourEasternandSouthernNeighbours’(COM(2003)104)anditsresol-utionof20November2003(
1)onthesamesubject,
/dash havingregardtoitsresolutionof20November2003onthe12thEU-RussiaSummitheldinRome
on6November2003(2),
/dash havingregardtoitsearlierresolutionsontheimplementationoftheCommonStrategy,theNorthern
Dimension,Kaliningrad,Chechnya,UkraineandSouthCaucasus,
/dash havingregardtotheproposalforarecommendationtotheCouncilbyBastiaanBelderonbehalfof
theEDDGrouponEU-Russiarelations(B5-0438/2003),
/dash havingregardtoRule49(3)andRule104ofitsRulesofProcedure,
/dash havingregardtothereportoftheCommitteeonForeignAffairs,HumanRights,CommonSecurity
andDefencePolicyandtheopinionoftheCommitteeonIndustry,ExternalTrade,ResearchandEnergy(A5-0053/2004),
A. whereas,owingtoitssize,resourcesandpolicies,Russiaplaysacrucialroleforsecurityandstability
inEuropeandwhereastheEUconductsapolicyofconstructiveengagementvis-à-visRussia,
B. whereasRussia’simportanceasadirectneighbouroftheEUwillfurtherincreaseasaresultofEU
enlargementand,havingregardtotheresultoftheelectionstotheStateDuma,cooperationbetweentheEuropeanParliamentandtheDumaisanevenmoreexactingtask,
C. whereastheEUandRussiahavecommoninterestsintradeandtheeconomy,withtheEUconstitut-
ingRussia’sbiggestexportmarketanditsmostimportantsourceofimports;whereastheEUhasaninterest in improving the security of its energy supplies from Russia and wishes to develop itsimports,providedthatshipmentscomplywithinternationalsafetyandenvironmentalrequirements,andwhereasthesetwofactorstakentogetherofferconsiderablepotentialforinvestmentinRussiawhichcouldhelpthecountry’seconomicmodernisation,whereascommoninterestsshouldbelinkedtosharedvaluesuponwhichtodevelopagenuineandbalancedpartnership,
D. whereasasuccessfulandincreasinglybroad-basedeconomicdevelopmentinRussiaisintheinterests
alsooftheEU,inparticularsinceitwouldprovideRussiawithfurtherresourcestodealwitharange
ofchallengessuchasimprovingnuclearsafety,reducingpollutionoftheenvironment,improvingpublichealthandtakingmoreeffectivemeasuresagainstthespreadofinfectiousdiseasessuchasHIV/AIDSandtuberculosis,andwouldraisethestandardofliving,whichcouldhelptoreducecrime,druguseandtrafficking,
(1) P5_TA(2003)0520.
(2) P5_TA(2003)0519.23.4.2004EN C98E/183 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
E. whereas huge volumesofradioactive material are storedunder alarming conditionsonthe Kola
Peninsula,closetotheEUborder;whereasplanstocontinueoperatingformanyyearstocomeanumberoffirstgenerationnuclearpowerplantswhichdonotfulfilinternationalsafetystandardsarealsoamatterofconcern;whereas,atthesametime,theEUandRussiahavetheambitionofinter-connectingtheirelectricitygridsby2007,
F. whereasthedelayintransmittingtheKyotoprotocolforratificationtotheDumaispreventingthis
treatyfromenteringintoforce,thusweakeningtheinternationalmultilateralframework,
G. whereasorganisedcrime,includingdrugtraffickingandtraffickinginhumanbeings,iscreatingmajor
problemsinRussiansociety,isadisruptivefactorinrelationswiththeEUandrequireseffectivebordercontrols,
H. whereastheEUandRussiacancontributetoenhancedcommonsecurityinEuropethroughmore
intensedialogueandcooperationoncontrollingarmsexports,onissuesarisingfromtheNon-Prolife-
rationTreaty,onthesecurityproblemslinkedtointernationalcrime,onstrategiesforcombatingterrorismandpreventingterroristattacksandonpossiblesolutionstoconflictsintroublespotsinEasternEurope,
I. whereasthemassivepersistanthumanrightsviolationsinChechnyaandthecontinuingabsenceofa
credible peace andreconciliation processare perpetuating the suffering ofthe inhabitantsoftherepublicandcontinuetodissuadethosewhohavefledfromreturning;whereasRussiashouldguar-anteethatinternationalorganisationscanoperateinthearea;whereastheexpertsoftheCouncilofEurope’sCommitteeforthePreventionofTorturewhovisitedChechnyainMay2003werepromptedbytheirfindingstotaketheunusualstepofissuingapublicstatementwhichincludedthewarningthat‘astatemustavoidthetrapofabandoningcivilisedvalues’(
1),
J. whereastoportraytheconflictassimplyonebetweenterroristsandforcesseekingtoupholdlawand
orderistodistortit,eventhoughterroristactivitiescontinueandhaveshownsignsofincreasing;whereasactionsofthesecurityandmilitaryforcescouldbeseenascounter-productiveinthattheycontributetothecreationofaclimateofdreadandhopelessness,incitingadesireforretaliationamongfamilymembersofvictimsandinthiswayfacilitatingtherecruitmentofwould-beassassinsandsuicideattackers,
K. whereasoverthelastdecadethewarinChechnyahasleftover200000peopledeadoutofan
originalChechenpopulationofonemillioninhabitants,turnedhundredsofthousandsintorefugees,lefttensofthousandsinjured,tortured,handicappedortraumatisedandcausedtensofthousandsofdeathsamongtheRussianmilitary,
L. whereasitisalarmedbyinstancesofapplicantstotheEuropeanCourtofHumanRightsandof
membersoftheirfamiliesdisappearingorbeingkilled,
M. whereastheongoingconflictinChechnyaandthemassivehumanrightsviolationstakingplacethere
areaninsurmountableobstacletothedevelopmentofagenuinepartnershipbetweentheEUandRussia,
N. whereasChechnyaisnotonlyan‘internalaffair’ofRussia’s,inthatviolationsofhumanrightsare
self-evidentlythreatstointernationalsecurity,ofakindalreadyfeltinsomeneighbouringcountries,
(1) PublicstatementconcerningtheChechenRepublicoftheRussianFederation,foundathttp://www.cpt.coe.int/en/
states/rus.htmC98E/184 EN23.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
O. whereasthefoundationsoftheEU’spolicyonRussia,notablythePCA,theCommonStrategyandthe
TACISprogramme,werelaidanumberofyearsagoandwhereastheseinstrumentshavenotyetbeenfullyused,butshouldbereviewedandadjustedtotheNewNeighbours-WiderEuropestrategy,
P. whereasthePCAisexpectedtobeextendedtothenewMemberStateslikeanyotherinternational
agreementconcludedbytheEU,butRussiaisapparentlyseekingtouseitasabargainingchipandtointroducenewconditionsforagreeingtothePCA’sextension,whichisunacceptabletotheEU,
Q. whereasratified borderagreements betweenRussiaontheonehand,andtheacceding countries
EstoniaandLatviaontheother,arestillnotinplace,
R. whereasArticle2ofthePartnershipandCo-operationAgreementmakesclearthatthepartnershipis
basedonthecommonvaluesofrespectfordemocraticprinciplesandhumanrights,asdefinedinparticularintheFinalActadoptedbytheConferenceonSecurityandCo-operationinEuropeheldinHelsinkiandGenevaandtheOSCECharterofParisforaNewEurope;whereastheEuropeanCon-ventiononHumanRights,towhichRussiaaccededafterthesigningoftheEU-RussiaPartnershipandCo-operationAgreement,providesafurtherimportantreferenceforcommonvalues,
S. whereasRussia’sfurtherdemocratisation,especiallyintermsoffreeandfairelections,freedomofthe
media,respectfultreatmentofnon-governmentalorganisations,adherencetofundamentalprinciplesinrelationtotheruleoflaw,suchasnon-interferencebypoliticalauthoritiesinjudicialproceedings,
equalitybeforethelawandtherighttodueprocess,andRussia’spossibleintegrationintomore
comprehensivepolitical,economicandsecuritystructuresareinterrelatedprocesses,
T. whereas,asamemberoftheOSCEandtheCouncilofEurope,Russiahascommitteditselftouphold-
inguniversalandEuropeanvaluesand,asstatedintheCommission’scommunicationonrelationswithRussia(COM(2004)106)RussianconvergencewiththesevalueswilltoalargeextentdeterminethenatureandqualityoftheEU-Russiapartnership,
U. whereasnoattempttotreatdemocracy,theruleoflawandhumanrightsissuesassectoralissues
havingnorealconnectionwiththeoveralldevelopmentofEU-Russiarelationsisacceptable,
V. whereastheelectionstotheStateDumaof7December2003wereprecededbyanelectioncampaign
marked by extensive use of administrative resources and control of the media, with the aim offavouringgovernment-friendlyparties;whereastheelectionsfailedtomeetinternationalstandardsandrepresentedastepbackwardsinthedemocratisationprocess,
W. whereasthepolicyoftheEuropeanUnionanditsMemberStatestowardstheRussianFederationhas
failedtocontributesignificantlytocheckingorevenstoppingtheweakeningoftheruleoflawanddemocracy,
X. whereasRussiamustdoitsutmosttoresolvethefrozenconflictsinSouthCaucasusandcontributeto
thestabilityofthecountriesintheregionbyrespectingfullytheirsovereigntyandterritorialintegrity,
Y. whereasitisessentialthattheRussianFederationhonourthecommitmentsitgaveon19November
1999attheOSCESummitinIstanbul,inparticulartocloseRussianmilitarybasesinGeorgiaandMoldova,
Z. whereastheEUandRussiahaveonmanyoccasionspleadedforaworldorderbasedonamultilateral
frameworkandjointeffortsshouldbeenvisagedtoreforminternationalorganisationsandmakethemmoreefficient,23.4.2004EN C98E/185 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
AA.whereastheEUandRussiahavedeclaredthelong-termobjectiveofcreatingacommoneconomic
space, a commonspace of freedom, security and justice, a space of cooperation in the field ofexternal security and a space of research and education, including cultural aspects; whereas fewquestionsontheactualmeaningofthishaveyetreceivedanyanswer,althoughtheEuropeanParlia-mentwelcomestheacceptancebyRussiaoftheEUCommonCustomsdocumentandthesigningoftheprotocolsontheexchangeofinformationwithEuropol,andwhereasitalsoremainsuncleartowhatextenttheframeworkforEU-RussiarelationsandtheWiderEuropepolicyframeworkshouldbebroughtinlinewitheachother,
AB. whereas uncoordinated statements by leaders of Member States have rendered negotiations with
Russia on the Kaliningrad transit problem excessively difficult; whereas after the last EU-Russiasummit,astonishingstatementsonChechnyadirectlycontradictingwell-establishedandfully-reasonedEUpositionsweremade;whereasMemberStatesandtopEUrepresentativesgaveconflictingsignalsfollowingtheYukosaffairandwhereasattheendofthesummit,statementsweremadeontheYukosaffairreaffirmingtheneedtoguarantee equitable,transparentandnon-discriminatoryprocedures,whichhavesincebeenbeliedbyevents,
AC. whereasRussiahasnotundergoneatransitionofthekindenvisagedwhentheinternationalcom-
munity,includingtheEU,formulateditsbasicresponsetodevelopmentsthereadecadeago;whereasifinstead,contrarytothecommonvaluesonwhichtheEU-Russiabilateralrelationshipistobebuilt,a‘manageddemocracy’isbeingconsolidated,ifeconomicreformsremainrelativelyslow,atleastaslongastheextractiveindustriescontinuetoprosperandif,inpractice,pursuitofincreasedleverageonsomeneighboursisasimportantasthesearchformutuallybeneficialco-operativesolutions,theEUmustfullytakethesedevelopmentsintoaccountinitsassessmentofitspolicyonRussia,
1. RecommendsthattheCouncilandtheEuropeanCouncilfocuson:
/dash howdevelopmentsinRussiasincetheEUlaidthefoundationsforitscurrentRussianpolicyhave
affectedthepotentialforattainingthepolicyobjectivessetandtheeffectivenessofthepolicyinstru-mentsused,
/dash listingandassigningdifferentlevelsofpriorityfortheEU’spolicyobjectives,withaviewtofacilitat-
ingrationalandfullydefensiblechoiceswhenparallelprogresstowardsdifferentobjectivesprovesimpossible,inparticularinsituationswhereobjectivesareinvolvedthatarecloselyrelatedtothecommonvaluesuponwhichthepartnershipisbuilt,
/dash agreeingonconcretestepstoensureconsistencyinthestatementsandactionsoftheleadersofits
MemberStates,theCouncilasaninstitutionandtheCommission,therebyenablingtheUniontoexertitsinfluenceaseffectivelyaspossible,asMemberStateshavecommittedthemselvestointheTreatytodo,
/dash givingitsrevisedpolicyonRussiaanewfoundationwhichensurestransparencyandcontinuityand
atthesametimeiscapable ofprovidingguidance, including underchanging politicalandotherconditionsinRussia;
2. RecommendsthattheCouncilandtheEuropeanCouncilapplywithabsoluteconsistencytheprin-
ciplethatthepartnershipanditsdevelopmentisbasedonrespectforcommonvalues,andmakenoexceptionforanyareaofcooperation,beit,forexample,externalsecurity,internalsecurityorsupportforRussia’saccessiontotheWTO;C98E/186 EN23.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
3. Recommendsthat the Councilandthe European Councilstructure the revised policy onRussia
aroundthefollowingobjectives:
/dash ensuringgoodneighbourlyrelations,includingeffectivebordermanagement,reinforcedandbetter-
implementedcross-bordercooperationandeffectivemeasurestoaddress‘softsecurity’problemssuchasnuclearhazards,pollution,cross-bordercrimeandillegalmigration,
/dash promotinghumanrights,democracy,independentmedia,civilsocietydevelopment,religiousfree-
dom,theruleoflawandtransparency,withspecialfocusonurgentlyseekinganimprovementinthesituationinChechnya,
/dash co-operating in addressing the ‘frozen conflicts’in the south Caucasus, contributing in a serious
mannertothesolutionoftheTransnistriaissueandcontrollingtheinternationalarmstradeand
promotingdisarmamentandnon-proliferation,
/dash exploitingthepotentialforincreasedtrade,whichRussianWTOmembershipwouldfacilitate,further
intensifyingtheEnergyDialogue,notleastwithaviewtoobtainingRussia’sratificationoftheEnergyCharterTreaty,anddeepeningeconomicrelations,whiletakingintoaccountsafetyandenvironmen-tal factors amongst other things; co-operating on the development of trans-European transport,energyandITnetworks,withthesupportoftherecentlywidenedlendingmandatefortheEuropeanInvestmentBank,aswellasco-operatingonsatellitetechnologies,
/dash supportingeffortstoimprovepublichealthandotheraspectsofsocialdevelopmentinRussia,with
specialemphasisontheKaliningradregion,withaviewtohelpingtodiminishthegapinstandardsoflivingasbetweentheenlargedEUandthisandotherRussianregions;followingthesettlementoftheissueoftransitbetweentheRussianmainlandandtheKaliningradexclave,makingjointeffortstopreventanyfurtherdeteriorationofthesituationintheregion,
/dash promotingpartnershipsinvolvingregions,towns,NGOsanduniversities;
4. RecommendsthattheCouncilmakeaspecificanalysisofthetendencyofnegotiationsbetweenthe
EUandRussiatosufferdelaysandbecomeunnecessarilycomplicated;believesthatalackofco-ordinationontheEUsidehasinsomecasescontributedtothisbyslowingdownthedefinitionofEUpositionsorbyencouraging RussiatoseektoinfluencethesepositionsthroughdialoguewithindividualEUMemberStates;urgesgreaterrespect,inparticularfromleadersofMemberStates,fortheneedandobligationto
refrainfromactionswhichcouldweakentheEU’sabilitytoexertinfluence;
5. RecommendsthattheCouncilnotdepartfromitspositionthatPartnershipandCo-operationAgree-
mentsmustbeextendedpromptlytoallthenewMemberStates;
6. RecommendsthattheCouncildemandthatRussiaimmediatelysignandratifythenegotiatedborder
agreementswiththeaccessionstatesEstoniaandLatvia;
7. WelcomestheCommissioncommunicationon‘WiderEurope/dashNeighbourhood’andtheproposals
on a New Neighbourhood Instrument; expects this initiative to play a vital role in future EU-Russiarelationsandtakestheviewthatitmayprovideaframeworkforbuildingaprivilegedsecurityandecon-omicpartnershipwithRussia;considersthat,inthisprocess,specialimportanceshouldbegiventoshap-ingandmonitoringthecommonexternalborders;asafirststepcallsforpilotprojectsoncrossborderco-operationtobeintroducedassoonaspossible,basedonincreasedco-ordinationofprojectscarriedoutwithintheframeworkofexistinginstruments;23.4.2004EN C98E/187 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
8. RecommendsthattheCouncilfocusonco-operationoncombatingcross-bordercrime,including
trafficking in drugs and human beings, and child pornography, and also found on preventing illegalmigration,demandingatthesametimemoreeffectiveactiononRussia’spartagainstorganisedcrime;
Chechnya
9. EmphasisesthatthesituationinChechnyaisverymuchatoddswiththevaluesandprinciplesupon
whichmodernEuropeisbuilt;considersthelackofdialogueonChechnyatobemorallyandpoliticallyindefensible,incompatiblewiththesharedwishtodeepenco-operationoninternalandexternalsecurityandincompatiblewiththerealsecurityinterestsofbothRussiaandtheEU;
10. BelievesthatMrKadyrov’ssuccessintherecentpresidentialelectioninChechnyaistheresultofan
unfairpre-electionphase;
11. GravelyconcernedbythefailureuntilnowtobringaboutapositiveresolutionofthecaseofArjan
Erkelanddeeplyregrettingthelackofanyprogressinresolvingthisdramaticcase,callsforafirmpoliticalcommitmentonthepartoftheRussianFederalandlocalauthorities,theCommissionandCounciltoensurethesafereleaseofMrErkel;
12. RecommendsthattheCouncilrevive andfurther developthe two-trackapproach according to
whichtheEUshouldactivelypursueachangeinRussia’spolicyinrelationtoChechnya,whileatthesametimecontinuingcooperationwithRussiainotherareas;stressesthatthelaunchofaninclusive,genuinepeaceandreconciliationprocessremainsanurgentnecessity;
13. AskstheCounciltoinstructtheCommissionandtheHighRepresentativeforCommonForeignand
SecurityPolicytostudythePeacePlanpresentedbyIiyasAkhmadov,andallotherpeaceproposals,andtopresenttheirconclusionstotheCouncilandtheParliament;
14. RecommendsthattheCouncil:
/dash increase its capacity to analyse developments in Chechnya, the repercussions of the conflict on
Russian society as a whole and how this conflictinfluences the prospects for attaining different
RussianaswellasEUpolicyobjectives,
/dash prepare detailed proposals for alternative approaches to the conflict, fully taking into account
importantaspectsoftheconflictsuchasitsdeephistoricroots,thelackofinterestinendingitonthe part of actors who under the current semi-anarchic conditions in the republic can conductlucrativeunofficialandcriminaleconomicactivitiesthere,thesociologicalcharacteristicsofChechensociety,theneedformassivereconstructioneffortsandthepossibilityoftheEUcontributingtheretoifrequirementsfortheaidtobeeffectivecanbemet,theterrorismaspectand,indeed,legitimateRussiansecurityconcerns,
/dash proposetoRussiaappropriateforaandformatsforfurtherdialogueonChechnya,stressingthelogical
andnecessarylinks,primarilytobroaderco-operationoninternalandexternalsecurityissues,andthosethatsuchadialoguecouldfavourthegeneraldevelopmentofthepartnershipbystrengthening
publicsupportforit,
/dash continuouslyrenewcallsonRussiatodoitspartinstoppingthehumanrightsviolationsinChech-
nya,toinvestigatedisappearances,reportsoftortureandothercrimes,toprosecutetheperpetratorsandensurethatcourtproceedingscomplywithalllegalrequirements,toallowUNrapporteurstovisit the republic in accordance with their requests, to allow international staff of UN agencies,humanitarianaid,humanrightsorganisations,mediaandjournaliststoworkinChechnyaandtoimmediatelystoptheuseofpressuresagainsttheinternallydisplacedpersonsinIngushetiatoreturntoChechnyaagainsttheirwillanddespitethestillverydifficultsecuritysituationthere,C98E/188 EN23.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
/dash vigorouslypursuethestartofadialoguebetweenMoscowauthoritiesandallrepresentativesofthe
Chechnyansociety,withtheaimofrapidlyachievingapoliticalsolutiontotheconflict,promotetheactiveinvolvementoftheOSCEandsignalthattheEUiswillingtoactasamediator;
/dash use,asappropriate,thefullrangeofmeasuresattheEU’sdisposaltoinfluenceRussianpolicyon
Chechnyaandtopromotesecurityinterestsandconflictsettlement,
/dash protestinthestrongestpossibletermswhereverapplicantstotheEuropeanCourtofHumanRights
ormembersoftheirfamiliesaretortured,disappearorarekilled;insistontheresponsibilityofeverysignatorytotheEuropeanConventionofHumanRightstodefendtheintegrityofthesystemforhumanrightsprotectionsetupunderthisconvention;
15. BelievesthatthedeportationoftheentireChechenpeopletoCentralAsiaon23February1944on
theordersofStalinconstitutesanactofgenocidewithinthemeaningoftheFourthHagueConventionof
1907andtheConventionforthePreventionandRepressionoftheCrimeofGenocideadoptedbytheUN
GeneralAssemblyon9December1948;
ForeignPolicy
16. CallsontheCouncilalsototakeintoaccountthesecuritydimensionwhenupdatingthePartner-
shipandCooperationAgreementinthenearfutureandreformulatingtheEU’scommonstrategyvis-à-visRussiaandtoformulatetheobjectiveofestablishingacomprehensiveareaembracingthewholeofEuropewithoutdivisions;
17. RecommendsthattheCouncilrenewitscallonRussiatocomplywithitsOSCEcommitmenton
troopwithdrawalsfromtheMoldovanbreak-awayregionofTransnistria,aswellaswithcommitmentsinrelationtotroopwithdrawalsfromthewholeofGeorgia;believesthatthedegreeofprogressmadeinthecomingmonthswithattemptsatforgingcloserco-operationonthehandlingoftheTransnistriaissueandonanincreasedEUpresenceintheregionwillgiveanideaoftheactualscopeforconvergenceofforeignpolicypositions;isawarethatthefuturedevelopmentofGeorgiadependstoaverygreatextentonthebehaviourofRussiaandlooksthereforetothelattertorefrainfromanyattempttointerfereinGeorgiaingeneralandintheAdjariaregioninparticular;callsonRussiatocooperateactivelyandconstructivelyinsolvingtheconflictsinAbkhaziaandSouthOssetia;
18. RecommendsthattheCouncilnotethat,byvirtueofitsunionwithBelarus,Russiahasaspecial
responsibilityforpromotingthedevelopmentofdemocracyinBelarus;
HumanRightsandtheRuleofLaw
19. Recommends,inconnectionwiththecreationofacommonareaoffreedom,securityandjustice
thattheCouncilinsistonfullrespectforhumanrightsandtheruleoflaw;andemphasisetheimportanceofequitable,transparent,non-discriminatoryandproportionateapplicationoflaw;
20. Isawarethattheprivatisationprocessinthe1990swascarriedoutinachaoticeconomicclimate
whichgaverisetoinstancesofdishonestandcorruptconduct;recognisesthatthereareseveralpossiblewaysofdealingwiththoseactionswhich,despitetheill-developedlegalframeworkatthetime,canbeidentifiedasillegal;stresses,however,thatrespectfortheprinciplesofequalitybeforethelawandnon-interferencebypoliticalauthoritiesinjudicialproceedings,aswellasrespectfortherightsofdefendants,arefundamentalfordemocraticstatesupholdingtheruleoflaw;recallsthattheseprinciplesenshrinedinthe1993RussianConstitutionformanintegralpartoftheinternationalobligationswhichtheRussianFederationfreelyassumedwhenitratifiedtheEuropeanConventiononHumanRightsin1996,andthatitmustthereforerespectitsobligationsnotonlyinwordbutalsoindeed;23.4.2004EN C98E/189 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
21. RegretsthatrecentmovesbytheRussianauthoritiesagainstYukosandtheOpenSocietyInstitute
were such as to arouse strong suspicion ofpolitical interference in the judicial process; calls on theauthoritiestotreatallprisonersfairly;
22. CallsontheCounciltourgetheRussianGovernmenttorespecttherightsofnationalminorities,
inparticularbymakingprimaryeducationavailableinthelanguagesofnationalminorities,andtoaccept
theuseofscriptsotherthanCyrillicinthewritingoftheselanguages;
23. RecommendsthattheCouncilencourageRussiatojointheCouncilofEurope’sGroupofStates
againstCorruption(GRECO)andtakeadvantageofthesupportwhichthiscooperationarrangementcanoffer;
TACIS
24. Notesthatthenarrowconceptoftechnicalassistance,whichisthebasisfortheTACISprogramme,
reflects unrealistic expectations in relation to the transition process at the time of inception of theprogramme;pointsoutthattheusefulnessofTACISasasupportfortheabovepolicyobjectivesisalso
seriouslylimitedbytheburdensomeandexcessivelytime-consumingproceduresassociatedwithit;looks
forwardtothenewinstrumentenvisagedbytheNewNeighbours-WiderEuropestrategywhentheregu-lationexpiresin2006;recommendsthattheCommissionexploitallopportunitiesforusingtheTACISprogrammemoreflexiblyandinadecentralisedwayuntilthecurrentregulationexpires;recommendsthestrengtheningoftheTACISdemocracyprogrammes;
25. RecommendsthattheCouncilpursueageneralexemptionfromRussianVATforallTACISaid,
sinceproblemswithexistingrefund-arrangementsnowhampertheimplementationofmanyaidprojects;recommendsthattheMemberStatesimprovetheirprovisionofinformationtotheCommissionontheiraidprojectsinRussia;
Kaliningrad
26. RecommendsthattheCouncilpayspecialattentiontotheKaliningradregion;welcomesthecom-
mitmentshownbyRussiatorapidimplementationoftheagreementontransitofpersons;expressesthehopethatmoreeffective EU-Russia co-operationonsocial,environmentalandeconomicdevelopmentprojectsintheregioncanbeachieved;
EnvironmentandPublicHealth
27. Welcomes the cooperation between the EU and Russia within the framework of the Northern
Dimension Action Plan, in particular the Environmental Partnership and its Support Fund; insists onpractical implementation of Northern Dimension projects; stresses that, as obstacles to the launch ofprojectstoaddressnuclearhazardsinRussiaarebeingremoved,theEUshouldmakesurethatitcancontinueitsfinancialcontributionbykeepingresourcesforthisavailable;urgesRussiatobanaccesstoitsportsforsingle-hulloiltankersthatareliabletoiceover;urgesalsothattheopportunitiesaffordedbythe Northern Dimension partnership on public health and social welfare established in Oslo on27October2003beexploited;
28. StressestheimportanceofRussiaratifyingandimplementingtheEspooConventiononEnviron-
mentalAssessmentinaTransboundaryContextinordertodevelopeffectiveenvironmentalprotectionmeasuresfortheBalticSea;callsonRussiatoacceleratethephasingoutofsinglehulltankersandtocarryoutproperenvironmentalimpactassessmentspriortooilextractionortheestablishmentofnewlarge-scaleportsorwhenextendingthelifeofnuclearpowerplants;C98E/190 EN23.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
29. CallsontheCommissionandtheMemberStates,inconnectionwiththetransportofoil,tomake
effortstoensurethatsingle-hulltankerssailingfromRussianportsnolongeroperateintheBalticSeaorotherparticularlysensitivewaterssuchastheCaspianSeaortheBlackSea,andtofurthertightentheamendmenttotheMarpolConventionadoptedinDecember2003providingforatransitionalperiodupto2010,forexamplebymeansofarequestbytheMemberStatestotheInternationalMaritimeOrgani-sationtodeclaretheBalticSea,theCaspianSeaandtheBlackSeaparticularlysensitiveareas;
30. CallsontheCounciltoreneweffortstosecureRussia’sratificationoftheKyotoagreement;points
tothefactthatthisagreementisparticularlyvaluableforRussia,becauseofthechoiceofreferenceyearinconnectionwiththefixingofemissionquotasandthehugepotentialforimprovementsinenergyeffi-ciencyinthecountry;regretsthatRussianeverthelesskeepsdelayingitsratificationoftheProtocolandtherebyalsoitsentryintoforce;
Foreigntrade
31. CallsontheCommissiontosupportRussiaintheprocessofdrawingclosertotheWTO;considers
thatinvestorsandtradersonbothsidesneedapredictable,stable,non-discriminatory,rules-basedsystemofbusinessrelations,whichareofgreatcommoninteresttobothsides;pointsoutthatrestructuringanddevelopmentofservicessectors,notablyinsurance,bankingandotherfinancialsectors,isanimportantconditionforsustainableeconomicgrowthinRussiaandthatthereisaconsiderablepotentialfortrade,investmentandotherformsofcooperationthere;
32. CallsontheCommissiontodrawparticularattentiontotheneedtodeveloplegislationandthereby
guaranteethekeyprerequisitesforinvestmentandtradeinRussia;
CommonEuropeanEconomicSpace
33. DrawsattentiontotheconceptoftheCommonEuropeanEconomicSpace,towhichtheEUand
Russia committed themselves at the 12th EU-Russia Summit, which could further the integration ofRussia’sandtheEU’seconomicandsocialstructures;
34. SupportstheCommonEuropean EconomicSpaceasalong-termprocessthathasthree major
dimensions:
(i) regulatoryconvergenceaimedattheharmonisationofRussia’slegalandeconomicsystemsandofits
technical,corporateandfinancialstandardswithinternationalandEuropeanpractice,
(ii) liberalisationoftradeandinvestment,reciprocalopeningofthemarketsandeliminationoftradeand
investmentbarrierswiththefinalperspectiveofestablishingaFreeTradeArea,
(iii) integrationoftheEU’sandRussia’sinfrastructuresystemsinenergy,transport,telecommunications
andotherrelevantareas;
Energy
35. WelcomestheprogressmadeintheEU-RussiaEnergyDialogueaimedatestablishinganenergy
partnershipbetweentheEUandRussia,aspartoftheCommonEuropeanEconomicSpace;recognisesRussia’s important role as energy supplier, and the EU’s importance for investments in this field, inparticularasregardsnew,moreenvironmentally-friendlytechniques;callsontheCouncilandCommissiontoconsidermoreinstitutionalisedformsforenergyco-operation;23.4.2004EN C98E/191 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
36. RecommendsthattheCouncilunderlinethattheEUmarketcanbeopenedforRussianelectricity
exportsonlyifelectricityproductioninRussiatakesplaceundersufficientlysafeconditions,which,firstofall,presupposesphasingoutfirstgenerationRBMKreactors,safetyupgradesofallothernuclearreactorstotheIAEAstandardsandalsoimprovedmanagementofradioactivewasteandmeasurestoreduceenviron-mentalpollution;underlinesthepossibilityoftheassistancewhichtheEU,itsMemberStates,otherstatesandinternationalfinancialinstitutionscanprovideinthenuclearsafetyandenvironmentalfieldsandcallsfor full implementation of the agreement of 21May 2003 on the Multilateral Nuclear EnvironmentProgrammeintheRussianFederation;
37. Emphasisesthatbothsidesshouldundertakedecisiveandconcertedactionsinthefollowingdirec-
tions:
(i) workingoutacommonblueprintforthedevelopmentofenergymarkets,toreorganisenaturalmon-
opoliesandconvergenceofregulationsystems,andtoestablishajointconsultativemechanismfor
exchangeofinformationandcoordinationofnewdevelopmentsintheenergymarkets.TheEUandRussiashouldalsosettheframeworkforalevelplayingfieldtoenabledirectinvestmentsinbothregions,
(ii) movingtheEU-RussiaEnergyPartnershiptoanewqualitativelevelasstressedintheFourthProgress
reportontheEnergyDialoguetabledduringtherecentEU-RussiaSummit.Inthisframework,issuesofnucleartrade,securityofsupplyanddemand,energyconservationandadvancedformsofcoop-erationintheenergysectorshouldbetackledinthemostpracticalway;
38. SupportstheconstructionofthenorthernEuropeangaspipeline,whichistodeliverRussiannatu-
ralgastoCentralEuropeandtheUnitedKingdom,therebyenhancingsecurityofsupplyinthosecoun-tries;
39. Emphasisestheimportanceoftheconstructionofthecombinedoilandgaspipeline,plannedfor
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhanforsuppliestothatareaandfortheprotectionofmarineenvironmentsasaresultofmakingseatransportunnecessary;pointsout,however,thatparticularaccountmustbetakenofsecurityandanti-terrorismmeasuresinconstructingthepipeline;urgesthecountriesconcernedtoapplytothis
projectthestandardsoftheCommunitydirectiveonenvironmentalimpactassessment;
40. PointsoutthattheinterdependenceoftheEUandRussiaintheenergysectorisgrowingstrongly
andmaintainsthattechnicalandlegalsolutionssatisfactorytobothsidesmustquicklybefoundinordertodealwithfuturechallengesinthesector;
Industry,researchanddevelopment
41. Calls on the Russian Government to provide for the timely implementation of scheduled
programmesoflawDevelopment,includingtheharmonisationwithinternationalstandardsofexistingproductconformityrulesandcertificationprocedures;
42. CallsontheEuropeanInvestmentBanktoallocatefundingtosmallandmedium-sizedbusinessesin
Russiainordertopromotetherestructuringofthecountryandconsolidatethenewdemocraticstructures;
43. EmphasisesthatthemaincommonpriorityforICTindustrytodayistoacceleratetheprocessof
‘Content Meeting Telecom’ with major emphasis on content rich, interactive multimedia services andbroadbandcapabilities;believesthatactiveeducationcampaignsandhigh-levelsupportarerequiredtoencourageandwidenthedialoguebetweenallstakeholdersinthedynamicdevelopmentintheICTindus-try;C98E/192 EN23.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
44. Emphasises the importance of exchanges and cooperation in the fields of research science,
educationandtheeconomy;callsontheCommissiontoprovideitssupport,particularlyinrelationtoexchangesofstudentsandresearchers;
45. Emphasisesthehighqualityofspaceresearchundertakenbystrategicpartners,includingRussia,
andtheimportancethereforeofcooperatingwithRussiainthatfield,inordertoenablebothpartiestobenefit;
46. Emphasisesthe commoninterest inworking onacommonstandardforthird generation (3G)
mobilecommunications;
47. PointsoutthatRussia’sparticipationintheEU’ssixthresearchframeworkprogrammerepresentsan
importantcontributiontofuturerelationsandthatconsiderationshouldalsobegiventoanappropriateshareinthefinancing;
*
**
48. InstructsitsPresidenttoforwardthisrecommendationtotheCounciland,forinformation,tothe
Commission,thegovernmentsoftheMemberStates,theaccedingandcandidatecountries,theRussianStateDumaandFederalGovernment.
P5_TA(2004)0122
EUpolicytowardsSouthCaucasus
EuropeanParliamentresolutionwithaEuropeanParliamentrecommendationtotheCouncilon
EUpolicytowardstheSouthCaucasus2003/2225(INI))
TheEuropeanParliament ,
/dash havingregardtotheproposalforarecommendationtotheCouncilbyPerGahrtononbehalfofthe
Verts/ALEGrouponEUPolicytowardstheSouthCaucasus(B5-0429/2003),
/dash having regard totheCouncilJointActionof7July2003concerning theappointmentofanEU
SpecialRepresentativefortheSouthCaucasus,
/dash havingregardtothePartnershipandCooperationAgreementswithArmenia,AzerbaijanandGeorgia,
/dash havingregardtotheEuropeanUnionProgrammeforPreventionofViolentConflicts,endorsedbythe
EuropeanCouncilinGöteborgon15/16June2001,
/dash havingregardtotheCouncilJointActionof25June2003regardingacontributionfromtheEuro-
peanUniontotheconflictsettlementprocessinGeorgia/SouthOssetia,
/dash havingregardtotheconclusionsadoptedon19November1999bytheOrganisationforSecurityand
CooperationinEurope(OSCE)attheIstanbulsummit,
/dash havingregardtotherecentparliamentaryandpresidentialelectionsinArmeniaandAzerbaijan,
/dash havingregardtothechangeswhichGeorgiaunderwentinNovember2003(‘roserevolution’),witha
newpresident,theformingofagovernmenton25January2004andtheforthcomingparliamentaryelectionsof28March2004,23.4.2004EN C98E/193 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004