European Parliament resolution on the parliamentary elections in Moldova
Date: 2005-02-24
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: European neighbourhood policy, Moldova, action programme, freedom of the press, human rights, organisation of elections, parliamentary election

C 304 E/398

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

1.12.2005

Thursday 24 February 2005

work, and the multilateral governance needed to ensure a free and fair trade system worldwide; therefore
supports the WTO as the principal forum for the management of globalisation, through trade opening and
the strengthening of multilateral rules, and the pursuit of sustainable development;

11.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission.

P6_TA(2005)0055

Elections in Moldova

European Parliament resolution on the parliamentary elections in Moldova

The European Parliament,

— having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Moldova, in particular its resolution of

18 December 2003 (1),

— having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Moldova and the EU which was

signed on 28 November 1994 and entered into force on 1 July 1998,

— having regard to the Communication from the Commission of 12 May 2004 on the European Neigh-

bourhood Policy (COM(2004)0373),

— having regard to the Final Statement and Recommendations of the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Coop-

eration Committee of 11 June 2003,

— having regard to the Action Plan for Moldova, which was submitted to the EU-Moldova Cooperation

Council, meeting on 22 February 2005, for approval,

— having regard to the declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union of 9 February

2005 concerning the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Moldova,

— having regard to the Needs Assessment Mission Report drawn up by the OSCE's Office for Democratic

Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) for the parliamentary elections in Moldova,

— having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the European Neighbourhood Policy recognises Moldova's European aspirations and the
importance of Moldova as a country with deep historical, cultural and economic links to the Member
States,

B. whereas within the framework of this European Neighbourhood Policy an Action Plan has been pre-
pared, which includes proposals aimed at encouraging the political and institutional reforms which will
enable Moldova to integrate progressively in EU policies and programmes,

C. whereas a genuine and balanced partnership can only be developed on the basis of shared common
values with regard, in particular, to democracy, the rule of law and respect for human and civil rights,

D. whereas Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin declared on 11 December 2004 that his country has

‘no choice’ but to move without further delay towards integration with Europe,

E. whereas parliamentary elections will take place in Moldova on 6 March 2005,

(1) OJ C 91 E, 15.4.2004, p. 692.

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F. whereas these elections must be considered a serious test for the consolidation of democracy in Mol-

dova and for its commitment to shared values,

G. whereas the Joint Recommendations by OSCE/ODIHR and the Council of Europe's Venice Commission
on possible improvements to election legislation and electoral administration have not been fully imple-
mented so far,

H. whereas serious concern has been expressed about government control of the public media and press-
ure on private media and about a general lack of access to the media; whereas concern has also been
expressed about abuse of administrative resources for the benefit of incumbent candidates,

I. whereas uncertainties still exist with regard to the electoral lists, in particular with regard to voting

possibilities for expatriates and students,

J. whereas Moldova's government has accused the authorities of the eastern breakaway region of Trans-
nistria of stoking tensions ahead of the March elections by mobilising reserve officers and concentrating
armed units,

K.

stressing that the democratic legitimacy of the new government will enhance the chances of moving
forward towards a comprehensive settlement of the Transnistria conflict which respects the sovereignty
and territorial integrity of Moldova,

Underlines the importance of a further strengthened relationship between the EU and Moldova —
1.
inter alia through the urgent appointment of a European Union Special Representative to Moldova and the
opening of the Commission's Delegation to Moldova — and confirms the need to work together to con-
tribute to increased stability, security and prosperity on the European continent and to prevent the emerg-
ence of new dividing lines;

Expresses its strong and continuing support for the efforts of the Moldovan people to establish a fully

2.
functioning democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights in Moldova;

3.
Stresses that the forthcoming elections, and in particular compliance with international democratic
standards during the electoral process, are of the greatest importance for the further development of
relations between Moldova and the European Union;

4.
Urges the Moldovan authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure that the parliamentary elections
are free and fair, both on the day of the elections and during the election campaign, and thus honour
Moldova's international commitments, as laid down by the Council of Europe and the OSCE;

5.
Calls, in particular, on the Moldovan authorities to ensure that the elections are held in a transparent
fashion on the basis of unbiased, pluralist media coverage of the campaign and even-handedness by the
State administration towards all candidates, parties and their supporters;

6.
Appeals to the Moldovan authorities to guarantee the right to vote to all citizens of the country,
including students, those working outside the country and those whose identity cards expire immediately
prior to the elections;

7. Welcomes the Moldovan authorities' invitation to international observers to be present at the parlia-
mentary elections, but urges them, at the same time, to offer the same opportunity to representatives of
Moldovan civil society;

8.
Urges the Member States, in particular Italy and Portugal, where most Moldovan expatriates live, to
find ways to allow Moldovan embassies to open polling stations in places other than embassies, thus facili-
tating access to voting for the largest possible number of Moldovan immigrants;

9.
Calls upon Moldova and its breakaway region of Transnistria to restart settlement talks, urges the
mediators to redouble their efforts to assist in the process and reaffirms its continuing strong commitment
to supporting settlement of the conflict, drawing on all instruments at its disposal in close consultation with
the OSCE;

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Thursday 24 February 2005

10. Welcomes in this context the unanimous Council decision of 26 August 2004 (1) to impose restric-
tions such as visa bans until 27 February 2005 on 17 Transnistrian leaders held responsible for preventing a
political settlement of the conflict;

11.
Recalls the Council proposal for joint crisis management, and stresses that Russia carries a great
responsibility for the situation in the region, maintaining as it does about 2 500 troops in Transnistria,
which, according to the decision taken at the 1999 OSCE summit in Istanbul, should have been withdrawn
by the end of 2002;

12.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to forward this resolution to the Council, the Com-
mission, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the Secretary General of the OSCE, the Director of
OSCE/ODIHR, and the governments and parliaments of Moldova, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and the USA.

(1) OJ L 279, 28.8.2004, p. 47.

P6_TA(2005)0056

Health and safety at the workplace

European Parliament resolution on promoting health and safety at the workplace (2004/2205(INI))

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission Communication on the practical implementation of the provisions of
the Health and Safety at Work Directives 89/391/EEC (Framework), 89/654/EEC (Workplaces), 89/655/
EEC (Work Equipment), 89/656/EEC (Personal Protective Equipment), 90/269/EEC (Manual Handling of
Loads) and 90/270/EEC (Display Screen Equipment) (COM(2004)0062),

— having regard to the Commission staff working paper on the implementation of Directive 91/383/EEC
supplementing the measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of workers
with a fixed-duration employment relationship or a temporary employment relationship (SEC(2004)
0635),

— having regard to the Commission report on the 27th annual activity report of the Advisory Committee

on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work 2002 (COM(2004)0539),

— having regard to the Commission Communication on adapting to change in work and society: a new

Community strategy on health and safety at work 2002-2006 (COM(2002)0118),

— having regard to Rules 112(2) and 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the opinion of the

Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (A6-0029/2005),

A. whereas Article 31(1) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (1) stipulates that
‘every worker has the right to working conditions which respect his or her health, safety and dignity’,

B. whereas in Article 137(1)(a) of the EC Treaty the European Community set itself the objective of sup-
porting and complementing the activities of the Member States in the field of improvement of the
working environment to protect workers' health and safety,

C. whereas Article 152(1) of the EC Treaty states that ‘a high level of human health protection shall be

ensured in the definition and implementation of all Community policies and activities’,

(1) OJ C 364, 18.12.2000, p. 1.