Activites

• 2002/11/21 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T5-0563/2002 summary

    The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the outcome of the recent EU-Russia summit. It noted the agreement on a new transit regime between the Kaliningrad Region and other parts of Russia aimed at ensuring easy passage of borders, but anticipates practical and technical problems in the implementation of the Facilitated Transit Document and especially of the Facilitated Rail Travel Document. The Commission is asked to monitor closely the mechanisms for implementation of this agreement, assisting Lithuania and Russia in solving all the relevant problems and the remaining still-open issues and technical modalities. The development of the Kaliningrad Region, which is one of the poorest and most problem-ridden regions in Russia, is an important factor for the overall development of the Baltic Sea area. Parliament encourages all parties concerned to promote the economic development of the region along the lines of the Northern Dimension Initiative, and to strengthen the overall cross-border cooperation along the borders of the enlarged European Union with Russia. Parliament went on to state its strong condemnation of the terrorist attacks in Moscow and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families. It also expressed its strong concern about the lack of communication of the Russian authorities, even to the doctors on the scene, which increased the loss of life. The new media laws adopted by the Duma are condemned, since they give the authorities greater control over coverage of crises such as the Moscow theatre siege, including the right of censorship. Parliament moved on to Chechnya and stated its conviction that the war in Chechnya cannot only be considered as part of the fight against terrorism, and regretted that the summit was unable to reach a common position in this respect. There is no military solution to the conflict in Chechnya. Steps must be taken for a political solution through political dialogue leading to negotiations with all relevant representatives of the Chechen people. Restoration of democracy should include a referendum on a new constitution outlining the division of powers between the republic and the federal state, followed by elections and the restoration of an elected government in Chechnya. Parliament acknowledged the right of a state to defend its people against terrorist attacks, but expected Russia to ensure that anti-terrorist measures are proportionate and fully comply with the rule of law, especially as regards the rights of innocent civilians.�

• 2002/11/07 Final act published in Official Journal

Documents

• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T5-0563/2002

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)