Strasbourg, 25/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 21 June, the European Parliament voted to adopt a resolution calling for a reinforcement of the attitude of the institutions towards Ethiopia, and greater support for the human rights situation in the country.
MEPs Ana Gomes (PES, Portugal) and Margrete Auken (Greens/EFA, Denmark) had presented their proposed resolution to the press the day before. “We know”, said Ms Auken, “that when the EU puts Ethiopia under pressure, it works”. The Danish member of the European Parliament laments the current inaction on the part of the EU, particularly given the hope occasioned by European assistance in the elections of May 2005. Further to these elections, which returned a large majority in favour of the opposition, the government has imprisoned a large number of activists, elected members of parliament and journalists. 38 of them, who are still in prison, have recently been found guilty of various crimes against the State, “ridiculous” allegations, in the view of Ms Gomes.
If the EU does not do something soon, these people may be put to death when sentencing is carried out in July. The resolution adopted calls on the Ethiopian government immediately to free the accused, to stop bringing pressure to bear on the press, to put an end to the persecution of journalists and to respect human rights, the rule of law and democratic freedoms. The resolution also calls on the Commission to publish reports it has had written by people present during the trials, in particular British lawyer Michael Ellman. It also calls on the Member States to support the development of the free media and the freedom of expression in Ethiopia, by dint of international assistance.
Ms Gomes welcomed the consensus adoption of the resolution, the text of which can be consulted at Parliament website (reference number B6 0257/2007).
Ms Gomes and Ms Auken went on to voice their hopes that the forthcoming ACP-EU meeting, which will take place in Wiesbaden (Germany) from 23 to 28 June 2007, will encourage Ethiopia to relax its position. After all, Ms Gomes pointed out, the country is a signatory of the Cotonou Agreement, article 96 of which states that the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms are a vital element of cooperation between the ACP countries and the EU. (cd)