Doc. 9363

5 February 2002

Abolishing the last piece of Iron Curtain in Central Europe

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr René van der Linden and others

The Iron Curtain which has divided Europe’s lands and the minds of its citizens for 40 years has now been abolished – abolished except along a stretch of the Slovak-Ukrainian border where one community still finds itself cut into two pieces because of the legacy of the cold war era. On the Slovak side of the divide this community is known as Velké Slemence, while on the Ukrainian side the other half is called Mali Selmenci. One village cut in two parts by the peace treaties after World War II between the then Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia.

      While the political Iron Curtain has disappeared, in 2002 there is still a physical one for the community of Velké Slemence-Mali Selmenci, consisting of barbed wire and double fences, with two tracks of ploughed land in between, as well as an electrical alarm system completed with a number of high watch towers. Since 1947, families have been torn apart and people have had no opportunity to meet each other for decades. Even on the occasion of a funeral, relatives living literally next door were unable to cross the border. This is the daily reality – Kafkaesque reality – for this village during 55 years.

      Because of this surviving legacy of the Iron Curtain, residents of both halves of Szelmenc have to travel by car not less than 75 kms in order to see someone who may live only a few dozen metres away. They can also visit their neighbours by train, which takes almost a full day’s travel! There is also a significant financial obstacle in addition to the physical ones, namely that a Slovak entry visa costs 25 Hrivnya, which can constitute a very real barrier to Ukrainians since, for example, the monthly salary of the Mayor of Mali Selmenci is 300 Hrivnya, whereas a pensioner earns as little as 50 to 100 Hrivnya a month.

      It is in clear conflict with the spirit and the concept of the Greater Europe without dividing lines. It is also contrary to the new Europe based on open borders, freedom of movement and respect for individual citizens and their rights.

      The case of the divided village of Velké Slemence-Mali Selmenci on the Slovak-Ukrainian border is another case showing the importance of genuine transfrontier co-operation between states in central and eastern Europe. The tangible human dimension of the problem of this small but very real divided community asks for a remedy.

      In accordance with the desires of the local citizens in both halves of the village, the Assembly therefore requests that the Slovak and the Ukrainian Government authorities establish as soon as possible a so-called mini border crossing for the people of the village of Velké Slemence-Mali Selmenci. This crossing should function for pedestrians to start with at least twice a week.

Signed : ¹

van der Linden, Netherlands, EPP/CD

Aguiar, Portugal, EPP/CD

Banks, United Kingdom, SOC

Bindig, Germany, SOC

Čekuolis, Lithuania, LDR

Cilevičs, Latvia, SOC

Duka-Zólyomi, Slovakia, EPP/CD

Elo, Finland, SOC

Engeset, Norway, EPP/CD

Err, Luxembourg, SOC

Flynn, United Kingdom, SOC

Frunda, Romania, EPP/CD

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Hornung, Germany, EPP/CD

Isohookana-Asunmaa, Finland, LDR

Janowski, Poland, EPP/CD

Korkeaoja, Finland, LDR

Libicki, Poland, EDG

Lintner, Germany, EPP/CD

McCafferty, United Kingdom, SOC

Michels, Germany, EPP/CD

Škrabalo, Croatia, LDR

Toshev, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Vahtre, Estonia, EPP/CD

Zierer, Germany, EPP/CD

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group