The Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament supported by a majority vote the text of the resolution on the rights of minorities in the EU, which emphasizes that "the situation and legal status of non-citizens permanently residing in the EU member states require a solution," EADaily’s correspondent reports.
"Despite the organized and aggressive opposition of colleagues from Estonia and Latvia and the mobilization of the largest faction of the EP - the People's Party, the committee voted 15 to 10 in support of the text of the resolution on minority rights in the EU. In it, the committee "emphasizes that the situation and legal status of non-citizens permanently residing in the EU member states require a solution." This is slightly more than half the case: the text on specific problems that non-citizens face was voted down. Why? In addition to the confrontation between the colleagues there is also a formal catch: we did not have petitions about the non-recognition of "gray passports" and problems with employment in the EU member states. Therefore, we have a request - if among you there are those who have experienced this kind of trouble, contact my office and we will help you draw up a petition so that in the next report the topic could not be ignored. Little strokes fell great oaks," the European MP from Estonia Yana Toom noted. "In the meantime, we will fight for what we have approved today; the text of the report will be put for voting at the plenary session in February," Toom added.