European Parliament resolution on the defence of multi-ethnicity in Vojvodina
Date: 2005-09-29
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Vojvodina, democratisation, ethnic group, human rights, national minority, protection of minorities, rights of minorities

C 227 E/620

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

21.9.2006

Thursday, 29 September 2005

5. Calls on the Tunisian authorities to allow the LTDH, the Union of Tunisian Journalists and the Asso-
ciation of Tunisian Magistrates to carry on their activities freely and to hold their congresses;

6.
Expresses its concern at the lack of progress towards the release of Community funds intended to
provide financial support for the projects undertaken by the LTDH and the IMED (the Mediterranean Insti-
tute) and AFTURD (the Association of Tunisian Women for Research and Development) project on positive
action for women's rights of citizenship and equal opportunities in the Maghreb, the project undertaken by
Santé Sud and the modernisation plan for the Tunisian justice system;

7. Calls on the Tunisian Government to take immediate action to release the Community funds intended
for the above-mentioned projects and rapidly to reach agreement on the modernisation plan for the justice
system;

8. Calls on the Council and Commission to work to improve the management of projects under the
MEDA programme and the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights and urges the Commis-
sion to determine the measures to be taken if no progress is made towards the release of blocked funds;

9. Urges the Council and Commission to step up their political dialogue with Tunisia, which is based on
mutual understanding and respect and has the aim of encouraging democracy, respect for human rights,
the rule of law and good governance, by calling for the EU-Tunisia Human Rights Subcommittee, provided
for in the Association Agreement, to be made fully operational in order to discuss the overall human rights
situation and, in particular, individual cases of abuse;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments

10.
and parliaments of the Member States and the Tunisian Government and Parliament.

P6_TA(2005)0369

Vojvodina

European Parliament resolution on the defence of multi-ethnicity in Vojvodina

The European Parliament,

— having regard to its resolution of 16 September 2004 on the harassment of minorities in Vojvodina (1),

— having regard to the report of 2 March 2005 on a fact-finding mission by its ad hoc delegation to

Vojvodina and Belgrade,

— having regard to the Communication from the Commission of 12 April 2005 on the preparedness of
Serbia and Montenegro to negotiate a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European
Union (COM(2005)0476),

— having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the EU and its Member States have been promoting democratisation and respect for human

and minority rights in the Republic of Serbia and the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro,

B. whereas breaches of human and minority rights in Vojvodina continue to be reported by political
including harassment and physical assault of non-ethnic Serbs and threats

forces and civil society,
against ethnic Hungarian political leaders,

(1) OJ C 140 E, 9.6.2005, p. 163.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Thursday, 29 September 2005

C. whereas in recent years central and local authorities in Serbia have failed to improve respect for human

and minority rights or to bring to justice the perpetrators of violent acts and acts of harassment,

D. whereas both its resolution of 16 September 2004 and its fact-finding mission have had a positive

effect on the situation in Vojvodina,

E. whereas no real progress has been made in reversing the deterioration in the conditions for national
and ethnic minorities in Vojvodina, thereby jeopardising their future in the region, or facilitating their
participation in the field of education or their representation in public administration, the judiciary and
the police force, or guaranteeing equal access to and equal treatment before the courts and the institu-
tions of a state based on the rule of law,

F. whereas the Government of Serbia has failed to set up two committees dealing respectively with indivi-
dual ethnically motivated incidents and ethnic relations in general, despite the declarations made by
Mr Kostunica in September 2004,

G. whereas the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro is bound by international and European human
implementation as a condition for further progress

rights conventions and must secure their full
towards integration into the European Union,

Expresses its deep concern at the repeated breaches of human rights and the lack of law and order in

1.
the province of Vojvodina;

2. Calls on the authorities in the Republic of Serbia and the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro to
acknowledge these violent acts as criminal acts in breach of the laws in force, and insists on the importance
of immediate and effective action, so that similar offences are prevented in the future and their effects are
not left unremedied;

3.
Intends to continue monitoring the situation in Vojvodina, in particular with regard to the content
and principles of the Stability and Association Agreement, and requests regular consultations with the
Commission and Council during this procedure;

Supports the initiative taken by its Interparliamentary Delegation for relations with the countries of

4.
South-East Europe for a public hearing on the minority and political situation in Vojvodina;

5. Reaffirms its willingness to use its budgetary powers both to assist and bring pressure to bear on
Serbia-Montenegro, in order to encourage respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms, including
minority rights;

6. Calls on the authorities in the Republic of Serbia and the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro to
reinstate the autonomy Vojvodina enjoyed until 1990 and to reinstate the real powers of the regional
parliament of Vojvodina in the field of education and the media, so as to enable the regional parliament to
develop adequate policies in this multi-ethnic region;

7. Urges the Commission, the Council and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and
Security Policy to monitor closely developments in Vojvodina, paying closer attention to the high security
risk which the harassment of minorities in Vojvodina represents, and calls, therefore, for EU monitors
(EUMM) to be sent to the province;

8. Reminds the Government of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and the Government of Serbia
that the principles of liberty, democracy, and respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the
founding elements of the Stabilisation and Association process and the rule of law are prerequisites for
Parliament's assent to the conclusion of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and any future part-
nership with the European Union in general;

9.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the High Representative for the
Common Foreign and Security Policy the Commission, the Government of Serbia, the Government of the
State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and the authorities of Vojvodina.