BETA


2005/2582(RSP) Resolution on the political situation and the independence of the media in Belarus

Progress: Procedure completed

Legal Basis:
RoP 132-p2

Events

2005/07/07
   EP - Text adopted by Parliament, topical subjects
Details

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the political situation and the independence of the media in Belarus. The resolution had been tabled by the ALDE, Greens/ALE, EPP-ED, UEN, GUE/NGL and PES groups. It notes that instead of improving, the situation in Belarus has further deteriorated and it strongly condemns the Belarus regime's indiscriminate attacks on the media, journalists, members of the opposition, human rights activists and any person who attempts freely to voice criticism of the President and the regime, as evidenced by arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment of detainees, disappearances, politically-motivated persecution and other acts of repression. The resolution states that should the Belarussian authorities fail to improve the situation regarding freedom of speech and the mass media or if it deteriorated any further, the Commission, the Council and Parliament should initiate the procedure to add more names to the visa-ban list of Belarussian authorities involved in persecution of the mass media. It emphasises once again that the further development of EU relations with Belarus will also continue to depend on the progress made towards democratisation and reform in the country and access for Belarussians to objective, free and transparent media.

Members welcome the project for the creation of a radio network broadcasting from Poland, Lithuania and possibly Ukraine, and call on the Commission to support its implementation and also to provide the necessary assistance as soon as possible to enable the broadcasting of independent radio programmes to Belarus from abroad to begin.

They refer to government action against the Union of Poles on 12 May 2005, when the leadership of the Union of Poles in Belarus were declared illegitimate by the Belarussian Ministry of Justice, a printing plant under instructions from the government refused to print the Polish weekly 'Głos znad Niemna' and fake issues were printed under the umbrella of the government. They condemns the government's action against the Union of Poles in Belarus as an attempt to curb the largest NGO and one of the few not controlled by the government, and deplore the government's attempt to take control of 'Głos znad Niemna';

Parliament calls on the Council and Commission, as appropriate, to do the following:

create a complex, multi-annual programme of support for the independent media in Belarus which will encompass support for the broadcasting of independent radio and television programmes from abroad, as well as support for independent journalists and newspapers; assist journalists and their families who are the victims of repression; create a programme of scholarships and traineeships for independent journalists, and to create training programmes for young independent journalists; consult Parliament on the implementation of this programme for free and independent media and information to the people of Belarus; raise the issue of Belarus with the Russian authorities so as to define common action to bring about concrete democratic changes in that country;

Lastly, Parliament calls on Member States to recognise the degrees awarded by the European Humanities University by way of confirmation of a high level of competence and outstanding academic skills, and calls on European universities to enter into a closer cooperation with it.

2005/07/07
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2005/07/07
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the political situation and the independence of the media in Belarus. The resolution had been tabled by the ALDE, Greens/ALE, EPP-ED, UEN, GUE/NGL and PES groups. It notes that instead of improving, the situation in Belarus has further deteriorated and it strongly condemns the Belarus regime's indiscriminate attacks on the media, journalists, members of the opposition, human rights activists and any person who attempts freely to voice criticism of the President and the regime, as evidenced by arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment of detainees, disappearances, politically-motivated persecution and other acts of repression. The resolution states that should the Belarussian authorities fail to improve the situation regarding freedom of speech and the mass media or if it deteriorated any further, the Commission, the Council and Parliament should initiate the procedure to add more names to the visa-ban list of Belarussian authorities involved in persecution of the mass media. It emphasises once again that the further development of EU relations with Belarus will also continue to depend on the progress made towards democratisation and reform in the country and access for Belarussians to objective, free and transparent media.

Members welcome the project for the creation of a radio network broadcasting from Poland, Lithuania and possibly Ukraine, and call on the Commission to support its implementation and also to provide the necessary assistance as soon as possible to enable the broadcasting of independent radio programmes to Belarus from abroad to begin.

They refer to government action against the Union of Poles on 12 May 2005, when the leadership of the Union of Poles in Belarus were declared illegitimate by the Belarussian Ministry of Justice, a printing plant under instructions from the government refused to print the Polish weekly 'Głos znad Niemna' and fake issues were printed under the umbrella of the government. They condemns the government's action against the Union of Poles in Belarus as an attempt to curb the largest NGO and one of the few not controlled by the government, and deplore the government's attempt to take control of 'Głos znad Niemna';

Parliament calls on the Council and Commission, as appropriate, to do the following:

create a complex, multi-annual programme of support for the independent media in Belarus which will encompass support for the broadcasting of independent radio and television programmes from abroad, as well as support for independent journalists and newspapers; assist journalists and their families who are the victims of repression; create a programme of scholarships and traineeships for independent journalists, and to create training programmes for young independent journalists; consult Parliament on the implementation of this programme for free and independent media and information to the people of Belarus; raise the issue of Belarus with the Russian authorities so as to define common action to bring about concrete democratic changes in that country;

Lastly, Parliament calls on Member States to recognise the degrees awarded by the European Humanities University by way of confirmation of a high level of competence and outstanding academic skills, and calls on European universities to enter into a closer cooperation with it.

Documents
2005/07/07
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2005/07/05
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2005/07/05
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2005/07/05
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2005/07/05
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2005/07/05
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2005/07/05
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2005/07/05
   Joint motion for resolution
Documents
2005/07/05
   EP - Debate in Parliament

Documents

History

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

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activities
  • date: 2005-07-05T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20050705&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2005-07-07T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=12371&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2005-295 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0295/2005 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
committees
    docs
    • date: 2005-07-05T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2005-411&language=EN title: B6-0411/2005 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2005-07-05T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2005-413&language=EN title: B6-0413/2005 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2005-07-05T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2005-420&language=EN title: B6-0420/2005 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2005-07-05T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2005-424&language=EN title: B6-0424/2005 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2005-07-05T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2005-426&language=EN title: B6-0426/2005 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2005-07-05T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2005-428&language=EN title: B6-0428/2005 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2005-07-05T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=P6-RC-2005-411&language=EN title: RC-B6-0411/2005 type: Joint motion for resolution
    • date: 2005-07-07T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2005-295 title: T6-0295/2005 url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:C:2006:157E:SOM:EN:HTML title: OJ C 157 06.07.2006, p. 0407-0465 E summary: The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the political situation and the independence of the media in Belarus. The resolution had been tabled by the ALDE, Greens/ALE, EPP-ED, UEN, GUE/NGL and PES groups. It notes that instead of improving, the situation in Belarus has further deteriorated and it strongly condemns the Belarus regime's indiscriminate attacks on the media, journalists, members of the opposition, human rights activists and any person who attempts freely to voice criticism of the President and the regime, as evidenced by arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment of detainees, disappearances, politically-motivated persecution and other acts of repression. The resolution states that should the Belarussian authorities fail to improve the situation regarding freedom of speech and the mass media or if it deteriorated any further, the Commission, the Council and Parliament should initiate the procedure to add more names to the visa-ban list of Belarussian authorities involved in persecution of the mass media. It emphasises once again that the further development of EU relations with Belarus will also continue to depend on the progress made towards democratisation and reform in the country and access for Belarussians to objective, free and transparent media. Members welcome the project for the creation of a radio network broadcasting from Poland, Lithuania and possibly Ukraine, and call on the Commission to support its implementation and also to provide the necessary assistance as soon as possible to enable the broadcasting of independent radio programmes to Belarus from abroad to begin. They refer to government action against the Union of Poles on 12 May 2005, when the leadership of the Union of Poles in Belarus were declared illegitimate by the Belarussian Ministry of Justice, a printing plant under instructions from the government refused to print the Polish weekly 'Głos znad Niemna' and fake issues were printed under the umbrella of the government. They condemns the government's action against the Union of Poles in Belarus as an attempt to curb the largest NGO and one of the few not controlled by the government, and deplore the government's attempt to take control of 'Głos znad Niemna'; Parliament calls on the Council and Commission, as appropriate, to do the following: create a complex, multi-annual programme of support for the independent media in Belarus which will encompass support for the broadcasting of independent radio and television programmes from abroad, as well as support for independent journalists and newspapers; assist journalists and their families who are the victims of repression; create a programme of scholarships and traineeships for independent journalists, and to create training programmes for young independent journalists; consult Parliament on the implementation of this programme for free and independent media and information to the people of Belarus; raise the issue of Belarus with the Russian authorities so as to define common action to bring about concrete democratic changes in that country; Lastly, Parliament calls on Member States to recognise the degrees awarded by the European Humanities University by way of confirmation of a high level of competence and outstanding academic skills, and calls on European universities to enter into a closer cooperation with it. type: Text adopted by Parliament, topical subjects body: EP
    events
    • date: 2005-07-05T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20050705&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
    • date: 2005-07-07T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=12371&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
    • date: 2005-07-07T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2005-295 title: T6-0295/2005 summary: The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the political situation and the independence of the media in Belarus. The resolution had been tabled by the ALDE, Greens/ALE, EPP-ED, UEN, GUE/NGL and PES groups. It notes that instead of improving, the situation in Belarus has further deteriorated and it strongly condemns the Belarus regime's indiscriminate attacks on the media, journalists, members of the opposition, human rights activists and any person who attempts freely to voice criticism of the President and the regime, as evidenced by arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment of detainees, disappearances, politically-motivated persecution and other acts of repression. The resolution states that should the Belarussian authorities fail to improve the situation regarding freedom of speech and the mass media or if it deteriorated any further, the Commission, the Council and Parliament should initiate the procedure to add more names to the visa-ban list of Belarussian authorities involved in persecution of the mass media. It emphasises once again that the further development of EU relations with Belarus will also continue to depend on the progress made towards democratisation and reform in the country and access for Belarussians to objective, free and transparent media. Members welcome the project for the creation of a radio network broadcasting from Poland, Lithuania and possibly Ukraine, and call on the Commission to support its implementation and also to provide the necessary assistance as soon as possible to enable the broadcasting of independent radio programmes to Belarus from abroad to begin. They refer to government action against the Union of Poles on 12 May 2005, when the leadership of the Union of Poles in Belarus were declared illegitimate by the Belarussian Ministry of Justice, a printing plant under instructions from the government refused to print the Polish weekly 'Głos znad Niemna' and fake issues were printed under the umbrella of the government. They condemns the government's action against the Union of Poles in Belarus as an attempt to curb the largest NGO and one of the few not controlled by the government, and deplore the government's attempt to take control of 'Głos znad Niemna'; Parliament calls on the Council and Commission, as appropriate, to do the following: create a complex, multi-annual programme of support for the independent media in Belarus which will encompass support for the broadcasting of independent radio and television programmes from abroad, as well as support for independent journalists and newspapers; assist journalists and their families who are the victims of repression; create a programme of scholarships and traineeships for independent journalists, and to create training programmes for young independent journalists; consult Parliament on the implementation of this programme for free and independent media and information to the people of Belarus; raise the issue of Belarus with the Russian authorities so as to define common action to bring about concrete democratic changes in that country; Lastly, Parliament calls on Member States to recognise the degrees awarded by the European Humanities University by way of confirmation of a high level of competence and outstanding academic skills, and calls on European universities to enter into a closer cooperation with it.
    • date: 2005-07-07T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
    links
    other
      procedure/legal_basis/0
      Rules of Procedure EP 123-p2
      procedure/legal_basis/0
      Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 123-p2
      procedure/subject
      Old
      • 6.10.09 Human rights situation in the world
      New
      6.10.09
      Human rights situation in the world
      procedure/subtype
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      Resolution on statements
      New
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      activities
      • date: 2005-07-05T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20050705&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
      • date: 2005-07-07T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=12371&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2005-295 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0295/2005 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
      committees
        links
        other
          procedure
          legal_basis
          Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 123-p2
          reference
          2005/2582(RSP)
          title
          Resolution on the political situation and the independence of the media in Belarus
          geographical_area
          Belarus
          stage_reached
          Procedure completed
          subtype
          Resolution on statements
          type
          RSP - Resolutions on topical subjects
          subject
          6.10.09 Human rights situation in the world