WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1101/96 by Doris PACK to the Council. Recognition of the new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by the European Union
Date: 1996-04-26
Institutions: European Parliament, PACK
Subjects: European political cooperation, diplomatic relations, human rights, rights of minorities













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91996E1101

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1101/96 by Doris PACK to the Council. Recognition of the new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by the European Union  


Official Journal C 305 , 15/10/1996 P. 0048 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-1101/96 by Doris Pack (PPE) to the Council (26 April 1996)Subject: Recognition of the new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by the European UnionIn its resolution of 29 February 1996 Parliament requested the Council to resolve as a joint action under Article J.3 of the Treaty of the European Union that full diplomatic recognition of the new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will only be granted if a full and satisfactory settlement is reached between Mr Milosevic and the elected representatives of the people of Kosovo.The Presidency mentioned in its declaration on 9 April 1996 the respect for human rights of minorities as a precondition for formal recognition.Nevertheless several Member States have recognized the new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.As you probably know there is clear evidence that the human rights and rights of the Albanian-speaking majority of Kosovo are not respected by the Serbian authorities. On the contrary, there is a continuous repression against the fundamental rights of the people of Kosovo which shows no sign of diminishing.What kind of timetable, perspectives and initiatives does the Council envisage in the process of recognition of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by the European Union?Reply (7 August 1996)As the Honourable Member knows, the declaration issued by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on 9 April 1996 does not refer to a recognition of the new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by the Union. Indeed, it only states that "...the agreement signed yesterday by the FRY and the FYROM authorities ... opens the way to recognition by the Member States, in accordance with their respective procedures, of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as one of the successor States to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia".Further, the European Union indicates in that declaration that "...hereafter the development of good relations with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and of its position within the international community will depend on a constructive approach by the FRY to"five main issues, among which "...the granting of a large degree of autonomy for Kosovo within the FRY".Following this declaration, all the Member States started their internal procedures for recognizing the FRY and possibly elevating their diplomatic relations with it to ambassadorial level, and many of them have already completed these steps. These all did so with express reference to the above mentioned declaration and its terms and conditions.In conclusions which it adopted on 13 May, the Council states that the Union is disposed to consider - in coordination with the High Representative - the gradual improvement of relations with the FRY and to adopt appropriate measures depending on the latter's attitude, in particular with regard to the criteria established by the Presidency declaration of 9 April concerning the recognition of the FRY by the Member States of the EU, as well as with regard to the right to return for all refugees, and the obligation to readmit nationals.