Motion for a resolution | Doc. 11588 | 23 April 2008

External interference in internal political processes

Signatories: Mr David WILSHIRE, United Kingdom, EDG ; Lord Tim BOSWELL, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Christopher CHOPE, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr James CLAPPISON, United Kingdom ; Mr John GREENWAY, United Kingdom ; Mr Davit HARUTYUNYAN, Armenia, EDG ; Baroness Gloria HOOPER, United Kingdom ; Ms Yuliya L OVOCHKINA, Ukraine ; Mr Humfrey MALINS, United Kingdom ; Mr Morten MESSERSCHMIDT, Denmark ; Mr Ivan SAVVIDI, Russian Federation, EDG ; Mr Tuğrul TÜRKEŞ, Turkey, EDG ; Mr Yury ZELENSKIY, Russian Federation, EDG

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

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has made it clear that it believes any attempt by external states, organisations or individuals to become involved in the internal political processes of an independent nation is completely unacceptable.

On 11 May 2008, parliamentary elections will be taking place in Serbia.

When addressing the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament, on 8 April 2008, Mr Javier Solana (EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy) said:

“We have to see how we can go from here to the elections on 11 May in trying to see if the response of the Serbian people is the one that we would like to see, namely a majority vote for the pro-European forces in Serbia. We want Serbia to be a close co-operative partner of the European Union and to come closer to the European Union and I would like everything that can be done on our side up to 10 May to be done. We have to do our utmost to take measures, if possible, that would send a very clear signal to the Serbian people that we care about them.”

On the same day, Mr Solana offered to remove the outstanding obstacles so that Serbia could sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU before the 11 May elections.

This would appear to be a blatant attempt to influence the outcome of the Serbian parliamentary elections.

The Assembly therefore asks the relevant committee to prepare a comprehensive report providing:

1. an analysis of existing legislation and practices in the Council of Europe member states that seek to ensure the protection of internal political processes from external interference;

2. proposals for action that could be taken by all member states that would safeguard the integrity of internal political processes from external interference;

3. an opinion on whether the enhanced working relationship with the EU provides an opportunity to discourage the EU from saying and doing things which contravene the values and standards of the Council of Europe.