WRITTEN QUESTION E-2007/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(6 July 2001)

Subject: Return of the property of refugees from Venezia Giulia, Istria, and Dalmatia

A few days ago, thousands of refugees from Venezia Giulia, Istria, and Dalmatia demonstrated outside the Croatian and Slovenian consulates in New York to demand the return of or, at the very least, fair compensation for the property which they were forced to abandon as a result of the treaties whereby Italy ceded part of Venezia Giulia, Istria, and Dalmatia to the then Republic of Yugoslavia.

This is an important issue that will need to be borne in mind as the EU moves towards enlargement. A further point to consider, at any rate as far as Croatia is concerned, is the failure to recognise the linguistic minorities (of whom Italian-speakers are the largest). By leaving their homes, the Italian refugees chose not only a nation, but also freedom, the same freedom for which Croatia and Slovenia have fought in recent European history.

1. Is the Commission aware of the above matter?

2. Does it not believe that the problem should be resolved to help bring about an eagerly awaited and desired historic reconciliation and foster mutual understanding of the human sufferings endured in different eras?

3. Does it not believe that it should impress upon all the countries which have applied to join the EU that, since the Union's inception, the Member States have been inspired by certain values and principles, first and foremost human rights and other fundamental rights such as the right of ownership, which have been unjustly violated on account of the expropriation and nationalisation carried out by dictatorships in the past?

4. Does it not believe that, after such a long silence, the Union could consider what help it might give to populations who have been compelled to abandon their homeland because of totalitarianism or because territories have had to be ceded under international treaties?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(10 September 2001)

1. The Commission is aware that World War II has left a heavy legacy for the lives of citizens of Italy and of the countries of former Yugoslavia.

2. The respective states have aimed to undo this legacy by means of bilateral agreements and other forms of cooperation, thanks to which the bilateral relations between the countries concerned are multiple and positive at present. The closer cooperation of Slovenia and Croatia with the Union, embodied by the Europe Agreement between the Community and Slovenia and by the Stabilisation and Association Agreement initialled between the Community and Croatia on 14 May 2001, have helped to form an additional framework for strengthening cooperation, also at the level of regions, and for addressing Europe's history in a constructive and equitable manner.

3. The Commission recalls each year in its Regular Reports on the progress made by the candidate countries towards accession, that they must comply with the criteria for accession laid down in 1993 by the European Council of Copenhagen and in particular with the political criteria requiring that they achieve stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities. These Regular Reports have been transmitted to the Parliament and have been made public. The next reports are scheduled to be transmitted in November 2001.

4. With regard to Slovenia, Annex XIII of the Europe Agreement, provides for the right of Union citizens, having permanently resided on the present territory of the Republic of Slovenia for a period of three years, on a reciprocal basis, to purchase property. The Commission carefully monitors the implementation of Annex XIII, the provisions of which complement Slovenia's national legislation on the restitution of property that was nationalised by the authorities of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). With regard to Croatia, full respect for human rights and protection of minorities has always been an essential element in the Union bilateral relations with this country and has been systematically monitored by the Commission in its yearly Conditionality Reports. This principle has also been recently formalised in the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, which will mark an important step in the process of rapprochement of Croatia to Europe. The same Agreement includes a provision granting to Union nationals, after a transitional period of four years, the right to acquire real estate in Croatia on a non-discriminatory basis (compared to Croatian nationals), the only exceptions being agricultural land and areas protected by the environmental protection act.