European Parliament resolution on support for the constitutional changes in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
Date: 2001-10-04
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: North Macedonia, association agreement (EU), establishment of peace, ethnic group, national minority, observer, rights of minorities, territorial law

C 87 E/252

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.4.2002

Thursday 4 October 2001

14. Support for a framework agreement in the Former Yugoslav Republic of

Macedonia

B5-0617, 0626, 0634, 0643, 0653 and 0660/2001

European Parliament resolution on support for the constitutional changes in the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)

The European Parliament,

(cid:1) having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in FYROM,

(cid:1) having regard to the Framework Agreement signed in Ohrid on 13 August 2001,

(cid:1) having regard to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and FYROM signed on

9 April 2001,

(cid:1) having regard to the various EU instruments for reconstruction in the region such as the European
Agency for Reconstruction in Kosovo and Yugoslavia and decentralised management of financial
assistance through the EU delegations, for example in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia,

(cid:1) having regard to the conclusions of the Parliamentary Conference of the European Parliament with the

Stability Pact countries held in Brussels on 17/18 September 2001,

A. whereas the NATO-led ‘Operation Essential Harvest’ has accomplished its mission of collecting 3300

weapons from the insurgent NLA as agreed between the parties,

B. whereas, on the basis of the Framework Agreement, Macedonia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity
can be guaranteed and the multi-ethnic character of its society preserved, it being the cornerstone
upon which to build a state which fully respects the rights of all the communities living in FYROM,
promote coexistence between all the ethnic groups and facilitate dialogue between parties,

C. whereas the parliament of FYROM has yet to complete the process of adopting constitutional amend-

ments, in accordance with the Framework Agreement,

D. welcoming the recent announcement by the Macedonian rebels that the National Liberation Army was

being formally disbanded,

E.

reminding the international community of the necessity to convene as soon as possible an inter-
national donors’ conference to address in particular macro-financial assistance and support for the
financing of measures to implement the abovementioned Framework Agreement,

1.
Points out that the political solution outlined in the Framework Agreement is the result of a pro-
tracted internal political debate in FYROM with the Albanian parties to guarantee their minority rights in
the Constitution and strongly believes that this Agreement guarantees a return to peace and security in the
country, as well as national reconciliation between all the communities, with due regard for the territorial
integrity and unity of the country;

2.
Calls, in this regard, on the parliament of FYROM to speed up procedures so as to adopt all the
necessary constitutional changes and the laws provided for in the agreement before the agreed deadlines;

3.
Acknowledges that the condemnation of terrorist attacks in FYROM is a necessary part of the peace
and reconciliation process and should be made in a spirit and context that will encourage peaceful cohabi-
tation by all citizens of FYROM in the future; encourages the adoption of an amnesty for rebels with the
exception of those who have committed crimes for which they may be prosecuted under the rules of the
Hague Tribunal;

11.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 87 E/253

Thursday 4 October 2001

4.
Is convinced that the long-term stability of FYROM will still require a substantial contribution by the
international community, and in particular the European Union, to achieve necessary reforms, by provid-
ing know-how as well as financial assistance in the framework of the Stability Pact for reconstruction,
return of refugees, legal reform and institution-building in the country;

5.
Takes note of the Commission proposal to extend the mandate of the European Agency for Recon-
struction to include the implementation of Community assistance in FYROM as the best and most practical
way to ensure quick delivery of that assistance to the country;

6.
Suggests, however, that this mandate should be limited to the specific EU assistance for reconstruc-
tion after the conflict of this year and that this should be accompanied by devolution to the EU delegation
of the management of the remaining normal EU assistance, in particular that relating to the implemen-
tation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement; considers, therefore, that at the same time the
delegation staff must be increased;

7.
Notes that the Framework Agreement provides for a second stage at which military personnel will
depart while NATO maintains a presence to protect the international observers, particularly those from the
EU and OSCE; welcomes the decision to increase the number of EU observers and considers their role
essential for the correct implementation of the Agreement;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the President, gov-

8.
ernment and national parliament of FYROM and the Secretaries-General of NATO and the OSCE.

15. Human rights: United Nations World Day to overcome extreme poverty

B5-0616, 0619, 0627, 0635, 0644 and 0654/2001

European Parliament resolution on the United Nations World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty

The European Parliament,

(cid:1) having regard to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 47/197 of 22 December 1992 declar-

ing 17 October as World Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty,

(cid:1) having regard to the targets for tackling poverty and disease set at the United Nations Millennium

celebration in September 2000 in New York,

(cid:1) having regard to Articles 1, 14, 15, 34 and 35 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European

Union,

(cid:1) having regard to the conclusions of the European Council meetings in Lisbon, Nice and Göteborg in

respect of social exclusion,

(cid:1) having regard to its resolution of 23 October 1996 on the International Day for the Eradication of

Poverty (1),

A. having regard to the fact

that

the World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty was created on

17 October 1987 by Father Joseph Wresinksi, founder of the ATD Fourth World Movement,

B. whereas extreme poverty constitutes a violation of human rights and an unacceptable assault on

human dignity,

C. whereas combating extreme poverty is a vital factor in world peace and sustainable development and

it must be given its full place in Community policy,

D. whereas extreme poverty affects hundreds of thousands of men, women and children throughout the

world, and over a billion people live on less than a dollar a day,

(1) OJ C 347, 18.11.1996, p. 87.