Doc. 8620

19 January 2000

Honouring of obligations and commitments by Slovakia

Recommendation 1419 (1999)

Reply from the Committee of Ministers

adopted at the 693th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (12 January 2000)

The Committee of Ministers replies as follows to Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1419 (1999) on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Slovakia which recommends “that the Committee of Ministers help the Slovak Republic complete reforms undertaken regarding the justice system, local and regional self-government, freedom of the media and protection of minorities through its Programme of Activities for the Development and Consolidation of Democratic Stability (ADACS)”:

Regarding the Justice System

In the programme budget for the year 2000, no expertise assisting with drafting the planned constitutional amendments is explicitly foreseen within the Council of Europe co-operation programmes. Legal expertise regarding all aspects of the planned constitutional reform can be provided whenever the need arises and requests are formulated.

In addition, the Secretariat co-operates with the Ministry of Justice and the public prosecution service, in the framework of the ADACS programme, on

-       the draft law on the organisation and administration of the courts, and

-       the draft law on the organisation of the Ministry.

Also it has been agreed with the Ministry of Justice that the Council of Europe will, at the appropriate moment, provide expertise on the draft law on judges, as well as on the draft criminal and criminal procedure codes and the draft civil and civil procedure codes.

The organisation of a national conference on the problems of the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government is scheduled for the year 2000 within the ADACS programmes.

A national conference on regionalisation is also foreseen in 2000 within the co-operation activities by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE).

Regarding freedom of the media

A seminar on broadcasting regulation and a study visit for a representative of the Council of the Slovak Republic for Radio and Television Broadcasting are foreseen within the ADACS budget programme for the year 2000. A seminar and a workshop on practical aspects of media work are planned as well. These activities will certainly take into account the concerns of the Assembly Recommendation. However, at this stage, no funding is provided for these activities. The Committee of Ministers may wish to remedy this situation.

Regarding minorities

Activities supporting the process of the signature and ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages might already start in December 1999 with a first information meeting between Council of Europe experts and the Slovak authorities.

The Joint Programme between the European Commission and the Council of Europe on “National Minorities in Europe” will continue to promote co-operation between government offices for national minorities.

A regional round table on “Minorities and Stability in Europe” was organised within the framework of the same Joint Programme on 19 - 20 November 1999 in Bratislava. Participants discussed legal and institutional aspects of implementation of the European conventions in the field of national minorities and tried to evaluate national and international co-ordination policies for the Roma communities.

Regarding the Roma minority in particular

This field constitutes the main part of the activities within the framework of the confidence-building measures in Slovakia. In particular, the so-called SPOLU project deserves to be mentioned. Since 1995, the project has been supporting activities with a view to raising the identity and cohabitation of Romany in different areas of Slovakia, as well as adapting Romany children living in children’s homes and boarding schools in Slovakia to family life.

The Specialist Group on Roma/Gypsies of the Council of Europe offered their assistance (e.g. consultancy, exchange of experience) to the Slovak authorities for the implementation of the strategic plan of the Slovak Government towards the Roma minority. This plan, elaborated in co-operation with NGO’s and the Roma community, concerns different fields, such as education, housing, discrimination and unemployment.

Since 1997, the Group has supported the organisation of a seminar on the education of Roma children, organised by the Ministry of Education of Slovakia.