WRITTEN QUESTION E-0697/00 by Hubert Pirker (PPE-DE) to the Commission. European Parliament resolution of 15 April 1999 on the report from the Commission on Slovenia's progress towards accession (1998).
C 53 E/18 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 2. 2001 For more information, it is suggested to consult the following sites on Internet: http://www. un. org/millennium (UN Internet web site); http://www. globalpolicy. org/ngos/docs99/gpfrep. htm (Global Policy Forum web site). (2001/C 53 E/021) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0697/00 by Hubert Pirker (PPE-DE) to the Commission (17 March 2000) Subject: European Parliament resolution of 15 April 1999 on the report from the Commission on Sloveniaís progress towards accession (1998) In its Declaration and Recommendation (of 18. 3. 1999), the EU-Slovenia Joint Parliamentary Committee called on the Government of Slovenia to repeal those laws and decrees from 1945 and 1946 relating to expatration of individual ethnic groups in the former Yugoslavia which still remained in force. Has the Commission held talks with the Government of the Republic of Slovenia about these laws and decrees? How will the Commission take account of this call from the European Parliament in connection with the accession negotiations? (2001/C 53 E/022) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0698/00 by Hubert Pirker (PPE-DE) to the Commission (17 March 2000) Subject: Accession negotiations between the European Union and the Republic of Slovenia At the Copenhagen summit in 1993, the European Council reaffirmed its determination to ensure that all people were protected against violations of fundamental rights and freedoms. It referred, inter alia, to the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Convention requires signatories to repeal discriminatory laws and regulations. What view does the Commission take of the fact that in the Republic of Slovenia, contrary to this requirement, the Avnoj decrees (dating from 1944 and 1946), which are explicitly directed against individual ethnic groups, still remain in force? Joint answer to Written Questions E-0697/00 and E-0698/00 given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission (2 May 2000) The Commission has assessed in its opinion on Sloveniaís application for membership of the Union of June 1997 that Slovenia meets the political criteria laid down in Copenhagen and that Slovenia has achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities. Slovenia has undertaken to fulfil the criteria with respect to the rule of law and adherence to human rights principles. However, the AVNOJ decisions were adopted and implemented before the founding of the Communities and are remnants of the legislation of the former Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia. The process of restitution of property continues. The Commission is aware of the fact that the process of property restitution is very slow in Slovenia. It follows this process in the context of its bilateral relations with Slovenia. However, the Commission cannot intervene directly in this question. Article 295 (ex Article 222) of the EC Treaty states explicitly that it shall in no way prejudice the rules in the Member States governing the system of property ownership