Vol. 510 No. 4
83 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the evidence, if any, from the Council of Europe human rights committee that people are being persecuted in Romania or any other European country for their political beliefs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22963/99]
Romania acceded to the Council of Europe in 1993. As a member state of the council, Romania undertook to accept the standards of the organisation, in particular, democratic values, the principles of the rule of law and the protection of humans rights and fundamental freedoms.
Romania is also a party to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the provisions of which, inter-alia, provide protection for persons from unjust persecution.
Each Council of Europe member state is responsible for honouring these commitments, with the assistance of the relevant bodies of the organisation – in particular the Committee of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly, the European Court of Human Rights and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture. It is considered that Romania has made considerable progress towards the fulfilment of its obligations and commitments to the Council of Europe and continues to take steps to improve the functioning of democracy, respect for the rule of law and the protection of human rights. The Council has welcomed, in particular, Romania's willingness to take appropriate measures to combat problems of intolerance and discrimination, particularly against minority groups. According to the 1998 report on Romania by the COE's European Commission on Racism and Intolerance problems of intolerance and manifestations of racism persist, particularly as regards discrimination and violence against members of the Roma gypsy community.
With regard to the second part of the Deputy's question, there are now 41 member states of the Council of Europe, all of whom are expected to fully honour the standards and values of the organisation, including respect of political freedoms. Ireland holds the chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe as from the beginning of November 1999 until the end of May 2000. The organisation continues to monitor and to assist its newer democratic member states to fulfil their obligations in this regard. Full respect for democratic values, including political freedoms, is also a key requirement expected of those European states whose applications to join the Council are currently being considered.
