A l’initiative des coprésidents de l’Intergroupe #Minorités du Parlement européen dont François Alfonsi fait partie intégrante, une lettre signée par plusieurs députés européens a été adressée à Josep Borrell, Haut Représentant de l’Union européenne pour les affaires étrangères et la politique de sécurité, sur la situation préoccupante de la minorité hongroise vivant en Ukraine.
Dans sa réponse à la lettre, le Haut Représentant indique que la Commission européenne est consciente de la situation et que l’UE souligne l’importance de la protection des droits des minorités nationales dans ses relations bilatérales avec l’Ukraine.
La lettre a été initiée par les co-présidents de l’Intergroupe sur les minorités, communautés et langues traditionnelles après que le cas de la communauté minoritaire hongroise en Ukraine ait été discuté lors de la réunion de l’Intergroupe le 25 mars. Les signataires de la lettre ont exprimé leur profonde inquiétude quant à l’évolution de la situation et ont exhorté le Haut Représentant à prendre des mesures immédiates.
Dans sa réponse, le Haut Représentant déclare que l’UE suit de près les développements dans le pays, y compris la situation des minorités. Il souligne : « Le respect des droits de l’homme, y compris des droits des personnes appartenant à des minorités, est une valeur fondamentale de l’UE. Les droits déjà exercés des personnes appartenant à des minorités nationales sont protégés par les conventions des Nations unies et du Conseil de l’Europe et les protocoles y afférents. Ils doivent être garantis ». En outre, l’UE insiste constamment sur ce message dans ses contacts bilatéraux avec ses homologues ukrainiens et encourage l’Ukraine à préparer la loi sur les minorités conformément aux recommandations de la Commission de Venise.
Selon le Haut Représentant, la publication des données personnelles de milliers de personnes – entre autres de l’eurodéputé Bocskor Andrea – sans leur consentement est inacceptable et l’UE continue d’exhorter l’Ukraine à supprimer ce contenu.
Les co-présidents de l’Intergroupe saluent les réponses concrètes de la Haute Représentante. L’Intergroupe Minorités du Parlement européen continuera à suivre de près la situation des personnes appartenant à des minorités nationales et linguistiques en Ukraine. Ils sont fermement convaincus que de telles violations graves des droits de l’homme vont à l’encontre des normes et accords internationaux, et qu’elles ne peuvent donc en aucun cas être tolérées dans un pays associé qui cherche à établir des relations de plus en plus étroites avec l’Union européenne.
Ci-dessous les échanges en question :
H.E. Mr Josep Borrell Fontelles
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Vice-President of the European Commission
15 April 2021, Brussels Subject: Violation of human rights and freedom of the Hungarian minority living in Ukraine
Honourable High Representative,
On the 25th of March, at the initiative of MEP Andrea Bocskor, the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages put on its agenda a discussion on the current situation of the Hungarian minority living in Ukraine. The online meeting was attended by László Brenzovics, President of the Cultural Alliance of Hungarians in Sub- Carpathia (KMKSZ), Member of the County Council of Sub-Carpathia, who outlined the restrictive measures of the Ukrainian Government affecting the educational, cultural and language rights of the national minority living in Ukraine. Furthermore, the President of the KMKSZ drew attention to the fact, that in addition to intimidation, there is a danger of the criminalization of those who stand up for minority rights, and they are no longer simply under political pressure but are being prosecuted with fabricated charges to silence them.
The political and linguistic repression has been dramatically increased since the adoption by former President Petro Poroshenko, in April 2019, of a law establishing the exclusivity of the Ukrainian language to the detriment of regional languages, and its implementation by Mr. Volodymyr Zelensky, current President of Ukraine. It contravenes in all aspects the essential principles governing the European Union as well as documents adopted by the Council of Europe, particularly the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
Since the local elections held in October 2020, Hungarian civil society organizations, the minority language media and representatives of local councils have been subjected to negative media propaganda, direct political pressure and threats from far-right nationalists and state security services. In Ukraine, during the difficult period of the Covid-19 epidemic, ethnic-based hate speech and incitement continues, which are still not investigated or prevented by the authorities. All this is further enhanced by the fact that in February 2021, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the preparation of a new law regulating the situation of national minorities living in Ukraine. According to information received, this draft represents a huge step backwards compared to the law in force since 1992. In the preparation of this current draft, moreover, despite all promises, local advocacy organizations were not involved. From last month in order to prepare the regulation of dual citizenship, authorities were ordered to search for persons with dual citizenship, thereby issuing a decree listing Ukraine’s own citizens, what is also violation of basichuman rights and freedoms.
European Parliament – 60 rue Wiertz B-1047 Brussels
We, members of the European Parliament and the Intergroup for Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages followed with deep concern the evolvement of the situation of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. We acknowledge the steps taken and critical remarks made until now by the EU against the lack of respect of minority rights in Ukraine. However, today, when the Ukrainian legislators are drafting a new law on national minorities and on dual citizenship, and when personal details of MEPs and representatives of national minorities are still on an extremist website condemned by the EU, we do feel that urgent and immediate action is needed.
The undersigned members of the Intergroup would therefore like to know your response to the following concerns:
– Does the European Union, which has concluded an Association Agreement with Ukraine, intend to remind Ukrainian government of the requirements in force within the framework of the Council of Europe, to which Ukraine is a party? Does the EU intend to protest officially against Kiev’s new policy of worsening the situation of minorities, particularly in the Hungarian-speaking regions of Ukraine?
– Will the European Commission investigate the legal action taken by Ukraine in response to the intimidation of the Hungarian minority, particularly with regard to a Member of the European Parliament?
– What steps do the European Union take to ensure that the New law on Minorities in Ukraine includes and guarantees equal rights and non-discrimination to national minorities living in Ukraine, that is the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution and international instruments adopted by Ukraine?
Please accept, Mr. High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission, the assurances of our highest consideration.
Yours sincerely,
The Co-Chairs of the Minority Intergroup
François ALFONSI
Kinga GÁL
Loránt VINCZE
Members of the European Parliament and the Minority Intergroup Andrea BOCSKOR
Izaskun BILBAO BARRANDICA Katalin CSEH
Andor DELI
The Ukrainian situation is characterized by its complexity, and it is the EU’s role to set strict
conditions on fundamental human and minority rights protection for a country, which wants to
become part of a closer European cooperation.
European Parliament – 60 rue Wiertz B-1047 Brussels
Anna DONATH
Herbert DORFMANN Bert-Jan RUISSEN Valdemar TOMAŠEVSKI Tatjana ŽDANOKA
European Parliament – 60 rue Wiertz B-1047 Brussels
Réponse de
JOSEP BORRELL FONTELLES
HIGH REPRESENTATIVE
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Ref. Ares(2021)2971072 – 04/05/2021
To all MEPs signatory to the letter on the situation of the Hungarian minority living in Ukraine
Dear Honourable Members of the European Parliament,
Thank you for your letter of 15 April, in which you express concerns regarding the situation of the persons belonging to the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine. The EU follows closely the developments in Ukraine including the situation of minorities.
The respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, is a fundamental EU value. The rights already exercised of persons belonging to national minorities are protected under UN and Council of Europe conventions and related protocols. They must be ensured. Rest assured that the EU stresses this message consistently, in various bilateral contacts with the Ukrainian counterparts and it will continue to do so in the future. This includes encouraging Ukraine to prepare without any unnecessary delay the Law on Minorities, in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission.
At the latest EU-Ukraine Association Council on 11 February, Ukraine confirmed that it remains committed to the protection of human rights including those related to national minorities. Furthermore, Ukraine committed to exchange any information and to take any action that might contribute to dispel the concerns. Let me add that the publication of personal data of thousands of individuals without their consent is unacceptable. We have raised this issue on several occasions with the Ukrainian counterparts. We will continue to urge the Ukrainian authorities to ensure that this content is removed.
I trust that Hungary and Ukraine will resolve existing bilateral disagreements in a constructive way, based on shared values and principles.
Yours faithfully,
Josep Borrell Fontelles
Brussels, 04/05/2021
A(2021) 2829746-2829746
Electronically signed on 04/05/2021 16:07 (UTC+02) in accordance with article 11 of Commission Decision C(2020) 4482
