B4-0619, 0624, 0628, 0630 and 0634/95

Resolution on the partnership agreements with the NIS

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the New Independent States,

- having regard to its resolution of 16 March 1995 on human rights in Chechnya ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 11(a).)) and awaiting the reports of its Members who visited Chechnya in March 1995 as well as the reports of its Delegation to Kazakhstan,

A. whereas the European Union, following the collapse of the former Soviet Union, decided to establish relations with each of the New Independent States based upon partnership and cooperation,

B. noting that the EU has, from the beginning, given active political and financial support to the process of economic and democratic reform in the states of the former Soviet Union,

C. recalling that it attaches great importance to chapters on respect for democracy and human and minority rights, as included in the proposed partnership agreements,

D. whereas the Council has still not officially consulted Parliament on these agreements,

E. bearing in mind the massive social upheaval bound up with the processes of change in the New Independent States, and convinced that a stable society is of vital importance for the consolidation of the democratic reform process,

F. whereas, already during the negotiation and ratification stage, existing EU instruments should be strengthened in order to promote democracy and human rights,

G. recalling its decision not to proceed with the ratification of the partnership and cooperation agreement with the Russian Federation following the invasion of Chechnya and the ensuing violation of human rights, and the Council's decision to postpone the signing of the interim agreement with the Russian Federation,

H. noting that active fighting is still continuing in Chechnya, that violations of human rights persist and that several hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to seek refuge in the neighbouring republics of the Russian Federation,

I. noting that the Supreme Soviet of Kazakhstan had been dissolved by the President of the Republic following a ruling by the Constitutional Court on the legality of the elections which took place in March and April 1994; noting also that a majority of the members of the Supreme Soviet have raised substantial doubts about this ruling by the Constitutional Court and the subsequent dissolution of the Supreme Soviet by the President of the Republic,

J. noting that, at the informal EU Council meeting at Carcassonne, several suggestions were made to broaden, intensify and structure the dialogue between the Union, NATO and the Russian Federation,

K. noting that substantial improvements still have to be made in the democratic process in the other states of the former Soviet Union,

1. Reaffirms its support for stronger relations with the New Independent States based upon partnership and cooperation in the interest of political and economic reform;

2. Insists that respect for democracy and human and minority rights, and the existence of a free press in these states, are essential for further cooperation between the EU and the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union;

3. Asks the Council and Commission to strengthen ways and means of promoting the cause of democracy and human rights in each of the New Independent States, building upon the existing EU instruments, for instance through the exchange of scientists, students, civil servants and others, including the promotion of the work of relevant NGOs and civic organizations;

4. Is of the opinion that ratification of the partnership agreement with the Russian Federation must be linked to the establishment of a political process leading to respect of human rights and democracy in Chechnya and an effective start being made to finding a political and peaceful solution to the conflict in this region;

5. Is of the opinion that the ratification of the partnership agreement with Kazakhstan must be suspended until new general elections have been held, free of the defects of those held in March/April 1994; urges the Commission and the Council to give the necessary support to Kazakhstan in order to create, as soon as possible, the legal framework for the establishment of parliamentary democracy according to the demands of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Soviet;

6. Requests the Council and the Commission to start the process of ratification of the remaining partnership agreements, which have already been signed, whilst emphasizing that the chapters on respect for democracy and human and minority rights must be applied in full;

7. Instruct its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, and the governments and parliaments of the New Independent States.