Parliamentary Assembly

Mr President, distinguished Members of the Assembly, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great pleasure for me to be in the Parliamentary Assembly Chamber. May I firstly thank Mr Peter Schieder, President of the Assembly, and his colleagues for their kind invitation to address this gathering of democrats which represents the very essence of the European spirit.

In January 2001, I had the honour of addressing the Assembly from this very platform shortly after taking on the office of Prime Minister. On that occasion I bade farewell to my parliamentary colleagues at the Council of Europe and paid tribute to the Assembly for its outstanding services to democracy and the rule of law. Today, I would like to share with you some thoughts about the past and the future, starting with an overview of the current situation.

On 7 October, Romania will celebrate the tenth anniversary of its accession to the Council of Europe. During those ten years, the Council has changed its face, increasing in size from thirty-three members at the 1993 Vienna Summit to forty-five members today. The pan-European vocation of this unique organisation, which strives to promote the values and principles of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, has been confirmed on more than one occasion by events on our continent. The European Union and Nato are going through an historic process of enlargement. Throughout this, the Council of Europe has been a unifying force, founded on essential democratic principles and values, and it will continue to play this important role in the future.

Ladies and gentlemen, the presence of Romanian parliamentarians within this Assembly has made a great impression on a whole political generation in Romania, with undeniable consequences for the construction of a democratic state. Since the end of the cold war, Romania has played an active part in the initiatives that have marked the development of the European architecture. It has also been an actor in, and subject of, democratic changes associated with that development. In today’s Romanian society, fully integrated into the European model, the role and activities of the Council of Europe have enormous significance.

Promoting democratic stability at regional and pan-European levels by means of internal political stability is another aspect of the Council of Europe’s work in which Romania is now a trustworthy partner.

Back in the early 1990s, when eastward expansion began, the Council of Europe demonstrated its ability to strengthen the continent’s security and stability through international dialogue and reconciliation. It is particularly in this area that the legal instruments, standards and mechanisms developed by the Council of Europe have proved valuable and effective.

Romania is currently entering a new cycle of the institutional reforms which have marked our passage from a country in transition to an established democracy, as reflected in Romania’s new status in Europe and in the Euro-Atlantic context.

The Council of Europe has long given its support to Romania. I wish to restate that it has been, and remains, a vital partner in the institutional reforms begun in the early 1990s. Its most telling contribution was to help draft our constitution in 1991. During Romania’s ten years as a Council of Europe member, our leading political and social protagonists – the government, parliament, local authorities and civil society – have based their action on the democratic principles defended by the Council of Europe. Our institutional reforms, which deal mainly with the justice system, home affairs and administration, are intrinsically linked to our assimilation of the democratic standards promoted by the Council of Europe.

We are not only regulating matters by setting standards, but also nurturing real democratic instincts in individuals and in society as a whole. This autumn, Romanian citizens will vote, in a referendum, on a draft revised constitution, adapted with a view to Romania’s future status as a member of the European Union. I would like to thank the experts of the Venice Commission for their help with this fundamental act, which is vital to Romania’s accession to the European Union.

As far as increasing our administrative capacity is concerned, we believe that decentralisation is necessary, since it helps to bring the citizen closer to the decision-making process. However, the experiences of other states, such as France, show that “transverse” reform is, by its very nature, difficult to implement, that devolution of powers must be accompanied by a transfer of resources and that a decentralising fundamentalism should not be allowed to emerge.

The Romanian authorities have already launched a national debate on this subject, tapping into the expertise of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe in order to set out a medium-term policy in this area.

Bringing state institutions and citizens closer together is a fundamental objective for our country. This process is particularly important in the reform of the justice system where legislation and judicial and administrative practices are concerned. Ten years after Romania ratified the European Convention on Human Rights, we can see a genuine increase in the degree of assimilation of the Convention’s principles, as expressed in the European standards constituted by the Court’s case-law.

We decided very recently to transfer the post of government agent from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. This decision brings Romania into line with other institutional models of this kind, giving the Ministry for Foreign Affairs direct responsibility for communication with the Court, while allowing the Ministry of Justice and other institutions to concentrate fully on the implementation of the Court’s decisions and on the legislative and judicial reforms which might prove necessary.

Ladies and gentlemen, there is a definite link between the democratic achievements of each Council of Europe member state and the democratic stability of the region of Europe as a whole. The same may be said in respect of the question of minorities.

The Council of Europe has undeniably made efforts to resolve the problem of minorities at European level and to regulate human rights issues. Many of you in this Chamber are already familiar with the Assembly debates that resulted in the adoption of the Jurgens report. The Council of Europe and the Venice Commission have made a tremendous contribution by confirming the Council’s standards in respect of minorities, while distancing themselves from certain conceptual proposals that are incompatible with these.

A few days ago, I was visited in Bucharest by Mr Peter Medgyessy, Prime Minister of Hungary. On that occasion, we signed a bilateral agreement on the conditions for the application of the law on the status of Hungarian minorities in neighbouring countries. This was an important and symbolic moment, illustrating both countries’ willingness to engage in dialogue and take responsibility. The Venice Commission, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities were able to gauge the fair balance struck on the difficult issues covered by this agreement. We can therefore acclaim it as a shared success which reveals the political and democratic conscience of Europe.

One European Commissioner told me we both deserved a Nobel Prize. Although that is a little farfetched, I would like to mention here the excellent relations between Romania and Hungary, because I think they constitute a success at European level, as I am sure Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy will confirm the day after tomorrow. The conclusion of this agreement is an important diplomatic victory for both Romania and Hungary. Together we have won yet another battle for Europe’s benefit.

Europe’s stability and security are at risk when human rights and minority rights are under threat. This is clear to see if we look around us at the conflicts and crises that have torn apart the Balkans and the Caucasus. Ethnic intolerance, discrimination and hatred were behind much of this violence. Every person belonging to a minority deserves equal attention and, consequently, equal treatment from the states of which they are citizens. Democracy can be based only on this approach.

As you probably know, several million Romanians live outside Romania’s borders. Very soon, we will be promoting draft legislation intended to support them and to preserve and affirm their cultural and linguistic identity in accordance with the standards enshrined in the relevant European and international instruments.

(The speaker continued in English) I continue by highlighting some of Romania’s priorities. The Council of Europe’s contribution to Romania’s implementation of the Copenhagen political criteria of the European Union is invaluable. Justice and home affairs are other fields of excellence in which Council of Europe expertise and long-term co-operation with Romania have borne fruit. Issues such as reform of public administration, local democracy, justice reform, social cohesion including child protection and the integration of Roma, are part of our day-to-day activities with the Council of Europe.

On the Roma question, we believe that a European solution from a social perspective is the most beneficial approach for the Roma themselves. We strongly support the Council of Europe’s actions on that and are encouraged by its Parliamentary Assembly’s proposal in Resolution 1123 of 1997. We have led a sustained information and awareness-raising campaign to educate the population to prevent an upsurge in racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance. The institution of the people’s advocate – the ombudsman – plays an important part in defending the rights and freedoms of the people who apply to it and helps to raise the awareness of such issues in Romanian society.

Romania’s central objective is to join the European Union. We aim to conclude our negotiations in 2004 and are working hard to prepare Romania for joining in 2007. I followed with interest the recent joint meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament on building one Europe – namely, one Europe of values. The Council of Europe and, in particular, the Assembly have reaffirmed their role as the driving force in promoting new ideas for European reflection. Romanians are glad to join in the effort made in all European forums at all levels.

Romania has contributed to the debates on the future of Europe in the European Convention. The draft European constitution incorporates Romania’s views, and it should shape the Union, which is a political entity supported by a platform of values shared by Europe’s citizens and states. Romania believes that the work of the European Convention should not be unravelled. Certain aspects need clarification, but renegotiating the document that will result from the work of representatives of national governments and parliaments and European institutions is not the way to achieve that.

The European Union’s growing political weight should also be reflected on the international scene. Europe has a responsibility to contribute to the management of globalisation on an ethical basis, while promoting its economic and social development. A stronger Europe, speaking with a unified voice, capable of playing a global role commensurate with its economic strengths and cultural and political heritage, and taking on increased security responsibilities in a Euro-Atlantic partnership, is central to world peace and the management of global issues.

I can tell you, dear colleagues, that we are convinced that the debate on the future of Europe calls for the third Council of Europe summit to define the future role of the Organisation in the new context. We are waiting to make an active contribution to its preparation. We are convinced that the Council of Europe’s location in the field of democracy, the rule of law and human rights will remain an essential argument for the Organisation’s pan-European action.

The Council of Europe should have a more ambitious role in making sure that those values are applied in all member states. Complementary to the international efforts to combat terrorism, the Council of Europe can expand its role in promoting the values of democracy and advancing multicultural and interreligious dialogue. That is a field of further investigation in which Romania can share.

The problem of reform of the European Court of Human Rights needs real solutions. We are interested in shaping a unitary European vision in the field of human rights, and we welcome the idea of incorporating the European Convention of Human Rights in the future European constitution.

Together with the Committee of Ministers and Assembly, the action of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe has been central to the development of democracy and local governance throughout the continent. We fully encourage that trend, which is instrumental in developing the European principle of subsidiarity. Together with the principles of legitimacy and democratic accountability, transparency in governance has greatly benefited from the involvement of civil society.

We believe that as a nation, historically part of Europe, Romania is a pillar of the system of values and principles underlying the European project: democracy, respect for citizens’ rights and liberties, justice and social equity, tolerance, solidarity within and among nations and a spirit of responsibility towards the next generation. As a consolidated democracy, firmly anchored in the European construction, Romania is committed to contributing to European and international development.

Becoming a member of Nato and the European Union will demand that we take on increased responsibilities. Romania’s capacity for managing major security and stability issues in Europe has already been proved by the successful Romanian chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in 2001. Romania will continue to promote the pan-European location of the Council of Europe. We can achieve that by means of our bilateral relations with countries in eastern and South-eastern Europe and the Caucasus. We will act in the same spirit during Romania’s presidency of the South-east European cooperation process in 2004.

The Romanian Government is focused on developing stronger relations with all neighbouring countries, and it strongly supports the efforts for future EU membership of the countries of the western Balkans. We also encourage the European destiny of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, whose ongoing chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers has been an asset to the Organisation.

I have seen the extremely varied agenda of the current session. Allow me to add a few words about the United Nations. As a candidate for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council in 2004-2005, we want to see a strengthening of the United Nations’ central role in coordinating worldwide efforts towards democracy. The United Nations remains an indispensable institution for governments. The main priority of Romania’s future mandate in the Security Council will be to contribute to a common approach by the United States and Europe to the security and development problems in the larger Middle East, from the Mediterranean, through the Black Sea, towards central Asia, with a view to combating the threat of terrorism and organised crime. Equally important to us will be sharing the experience of Romanian transition with developing countries in search of solutions to problems such as poverty, access to education and economic development.

I want to pay tribute today to the vital role that the Council of Europe has played in the democratic development of Romania. The success of Romania’s path to democracy is also a success of the Council of Europe. In spite of many difficulties and obstacles, some of which still challenge us today, Romania has proved that it has become a solid European pillar on which the community of democratic nations can count.

The time has come for us to repay the investment made by the democratic community of the Council of Europe in Romania’s democratic stability by sharing our experience with other European countries in transition. We believe that we have reached our point of destination on the path to democracy, which has been long and strewn with difficulties. We have benefited from the support of many friends, and many of them are, or were, members of the Parliamentary Assembly.

I confess that in spirit I have remained a member of this forum. I say that because of all the years in which we strove to uphold the values and principles of the Council of Europe in all our political actions, and to translate them into the daily lives of the citizens whom we represent. The Europe that we are building should be based on shared European values and goals, respect for diversity and a culture of solidarity.

Out of the experience of extraordinary transformations as well as the terrible disasters and conflicts that the European continent has suffered, a new European vision must prevail. It must be based on a greater sense of common purpose and equal opportunities for nations and citizens alike. It is the Council of Europe’s vocation to unite our efforts and allow that generous European vision to prevail. Dear friends, thank you for your attention.