Doc. 9727

4 March 2003

Forced returns of Roma from the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia including Kosovo to Serbia and Montenegro from Council of Europe member states

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mrs Zwerver and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       During the armed conflict in the Balkans in the 1990s, a large number of Roma originating from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia fled the country and sought refuge in other, mainly western European countries. The majority of them were granted different kinds of temporary protection based on humanitarian grounds. Some of them still remain in the countries which received them.

2.       The host countries are now seeking to return them to Serbia and Montenegro. A number of expulsions have already taken place on the basis of concluded re-admission agreements.

3.       Various Roma organisations have raised concerns about the procedures and conditions in which the returns are carried out, and about particular problems encountered by returnees.

4.       In this context the Assembly is concerned about the compliance of the forced expulsions with international law, and in particular with the principles of respect for human rights, family life, and property rights.

5.       Therefore, the Assembly considers it necessary to examine the procedures for re-admission of Roma population originating from Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo from Council of Europe member states with a view to verifying their conformity with international law and the respect for human rights.

6.       Moreover, the question of re-integration policies of Roma returnees should be examined with a view to recommending to the Committee of Ministers to take effective measures which would enable their rapid integration.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed 1:

Zwerver, Netherlands, SOC

Aliyev B., Azerbaijan, SOC

Branger, France, EPP

Cilevičs, Latvia, SOC

de Zulueta, Italy, SOC

Einarsson, Sweden, UEL

Hancock, United Kingdom, LDR

Higgins, Ireland, EPP

Ilascu, Romania, NR

Judd, United Kingdom, SOC

Kosyanenko, Ukaine, UEL

Lucyga, Germany, SOC

Nabholz-Haidegger, Switzerland, LDR

Vermot-Mangold, Switzerland, SOC

Wray, United Kingdom, SOC

1        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP: 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