Resolution on the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Romanian revolution of December 1989

The European Parliament adopted by 513 to 18, with 87 abstentions, a resolution on the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Romanian revolution of December 1989.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, Renew and ECR groups.

The anti-totalitarian revolution in Bucharest lead to the fall of the communist regime and the enactment of democracy. It tragically resulted in the loss of 1 142 lives, 3 138 people being gravely injured, and over 760 individuals being illegally detained and tortured. The sacrifice of the Romanian citizens who courageously stood in the line of fire, opened up the country’s path towards NATO, the European Union and the democratic world.

The use of force against the Romanian people in December 1989 painfully shook all of Romanian society to the core, and the identification of the actual perpetrators of these crimes remains an agonising unresolved issue for the victims, their families and for all Romanian citizens. These mass violations of fundamental rights had been perpetrated by the forces of the communist dictatorial regime that opened fire on peaceful protesters and deprived a large number of demonstrators against Ceaușescu’s oppression of their liberty. Even after so many years have gone by, neither the victims nor their heirs have learned the truth about the exact circumstances of these tragedies.

Romania has unnecessarily delayed the process of clarifying the truth and making it publicly available, which is paramount to guaranteeing the right of the victims and their heirs to equitable compensation and reparation. The national authorities have failed to act with the necessary due diligence imposed by international human rights norms.

Parliament commemorated and paid homage to the victims of the December 1989 revolution, who sacrificed their lives for the cause of ending the totalitarian dictatorship in Romania, and to their families. It called on Romania to strengthen its efforts to clarify the truth in relation to the events of the revolution, an absolute necessity for the country, the Romanian people, Europe and the European Union, in light of the right of the Romanian people to learn the truth, 30 years on from the revolution of December 1989.

As for the institutions of the European Union and its Member States, including Romania, they are called on to do their utmost to ensure that the crimes of communist regimes are remembered, and to guarantee that such crimes will never be committed again.