Official Journal C 249 , 25/09/1995 p. 0157

B4-1025/95

Resolution on the protection of minority rights and human rights in Romania

The European Parliament,

A. whereas on 28 June 1995 the Romanian Chamber of Deputies and Senate agreed on an education law,
B. whereas this law has led to a further deterioration of the situation of minorities in Romania,
C. recalling the assurances given by the Romanian government to the Council of Europe concerning minority rights,
D. in view of Romania's application to join the European Union,
E. whereas severe violations of human rights, for example the detention of non- violent political prisoners, the arbitrary arrest of members of the gypsy minority, torture and the mistreatment of prisoners are continuing to occur in Romania,
F. disturbed at the obvious misconception on the part of the Romanian police and security forces concerning their tasks, rights and duties,
G. concerned at the rise in nationalism which has occurred in Romania since 1990 and has been directed in particular against the gypsy minority,

The European Parliament,

1. Regrets the fact that the law of 28 June 1995 arbitrarily restricts the educational rights of minorities, in particular in its paragraphs 22, 32, 118/124, 120/126 and 121/127;
2. Notes that certain important subjects, including economics, engineering and law, may no longer be taught in minority languages;
3. Notes that the law aims to curtail the expansion of minority-language schools;
4. Stresses, while hoping that Romania will one day join the European Union, that membership is only possible for countries respecting human rights and minority rights, and therefore urges Romania not to take measures which would disqualify it from joining the European Union;
5. Calls on the Romanian Senate and the Chamber of Deputies to introduce a law seeking to overturn the discriminatory law already enacted;
6. Calls on the Romanian Government finally to respect its international obligations concerning respect for human rights;
7. Calls on the Commission and Council to take the most rapid measures possible - for example under the PHARE programme - to ensure that the Romanian police and security forces are trained in matters of human rights, together with their tasks, rights and duties in a democratic state governed by the rule of law and to give priority to the provision of such training both inside and outside Romania;
8. Calls on the Romanian Government finally to abandon its tolerance of nationalist violence, in particular by ensuring that the police and security forces are no longer immune from prosecution in cases where they fail to take action against outbreaks of nationalist violence;
9. Calls on the Commission and the Council to give particular attention to the broad issue of human rights in their deliberations concerning Romania;
10. Calls on the EU-Romania Joint Parliamentary Committee to include the broad issue of human rights on the agenda of its deliberations and meetings;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Romanian Government.