A group of Romanian citizens who identify them- selves ethnically as Moldovans initiated the process to register the association entitled “Moldovan Community in Romania – Native of the Republic of Moldova” (MCR- NRM) in 2007. The goal of the association is to represent and defend the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens native to the Republic of Moldova, who may or may not have Romanian citizenship, but who have their permanent or temporary residence in the territory of Romania.
Registration of the association was prohibited by a decision of the court in Pascani, Romania (case 4094/866/2007) on the basis of the non-existence of a Moldovan national identity separate from the national character of the Romanian state, even though a considerable number of minorities such as Hungarians, Bulgarians, Roma and others exist in Romania.
The actions of the Romanian authorities can be described as having a political character, since they violate the rights (the rights of association, freedom of expression, freedom of conscience and identity) of people who declare themselves as belonging to the Moldovan nation. The actions undertaken by the Romanian authorities to impose a national identity on people, as well as the non- recognition of the identity of people identifying them- selves as Moldovans, both in Romania and beyond its borders, are unacceptable; Moldovans are even not present in the official list of minorities living in Romania.
Mr Petrenko asks the Committee of Ministers, to what extent do the actions of the Romanian authorities accord with the standards of the Council of Europe, and what steps does the Committee of Ministers intend to take to prevent and stop the violation of the right of Moldovans in Romania to national identity?