A reduction of international oversight of Bulgaria would undermine the credibility of the Council’s human rights protection system, as the country has failed to implement the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights
It is time for the Council of Europe to step up its efforts in protecting minority rights in Bulgaria. On December 2, the Committee of Ministers will meet to decide whether to continue monitoring Bulgaria’s violations of minority rights or to reduce international oversight in this matter. EFA calls on the Committee of Ministers to maintain enhanced monitoring of Bulgaria until tangible and verifiable compliance with minority rights has been achieved.
In EFA, we are concerned about the situation of minority rights in Bulgaria. The country continues to refuse to recognize the Macedonian community and register any Macedonian organisation, violating Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. International bodies such as the European Court of Human Rights and the very Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe have repeatedly recommended to take the necessary measures. Bulgaria has also avoided implementing the decisions issued by these institutions.
Therefore, “we would not understand it if the Council decided on a premature closure of monitoring on this matter. It would undermine the authority of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the credibility of the Council of Europe’s human rights protection system”, said EFA Vice-President Kerem Aptourachim Oglou.
How did we arrive here?
The situation is particularly concerning. The issue will arrive at the table of the Committee of Ministers after the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) decided, on October 1, to close its post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria and to instead review its progress in the framework of periodic reviews. It’s the result of Bulgaria’s efforts to limit its accountability concerning the rights of Macedonians in the country.
The Council was following Bulgaria’s compliance with minority rights after the ECHR determined that the rights of the Macedonian minority had been violated: Macedonians were not acknowledged, and Macedonian organisations were not being registered. Despite the recommendations issued, still today no Macedonian organisation has yet successfully been registered. An example is our EFA member party, OMO Ilinden-Pirin, to whom we want to reaffirm our support and our commitment to justice, equality, and minority rights across Europe.
EFA President, Lorena López de Lacalle, said: “According to the Bulgarian authorities, the Macedonian minority is not present in Bulgaria, it does not exist. But they seek full recognition including freedom of association and political representation. The democratic rights to political existence of the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria should be fully respected. We urge the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to increase its diplomatic and political contacts with Bulgaria so that it acts in compliance with the highest democratic standards set by the European and international organisations.”
During the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the rapporteurs concluded that Bulgaria had failed to fulfil its commitments addressing minority rights. But despite all the facts and proofs in line, PACE decided to end its post monitoring dialogue of Bulgaria anyway.
After the PACE decision, it will be the Committee of Ministers who will consider closing the monitoring of the Macedonian group of cases on December 2. “That decision can only go in one direction, if the institution wants to keep its credibility: to continue monitoring Bulgaria until the country implements the decisions of the Court and ensures unhindered registration of Macedonian organisations”, said EFA Secretary General, Oriol Cases.
EFA member parties, concerned by this matter and standing in solidarity with the Macedonian community, have issued the following statement.