On October 20, 2005, the European Court of Human Rights issued a final ruling in the case of Ouranio Toxo and Others v. Greece (application no. 74989/01). The Court unanimously held that Greece violated Articles 11 and 6 of the European Convention because Greece denied Greek citizens of Macedonian national origin, who are a minority in Greece, the right to freedom of assembly, freedom of association, and equal protection of laws.
Members of the "EFA [European Free Alliance] Rainbow Political Party of the Macedonian Minority in Greece" brought suit against Greece alleging government sponsored discrimination based on national origin, ethnicity, and religious discrimination.
Nearly three years later, Greece has not taken any affirmative steps to address and abide by the Court decision. As a result, on April 17, 2008, the EFA – European Political Party, in cooperation with the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), EFA – Rainbow (association of the Macedonian minority of Greece) and the Federal Union of the European Nationalities (FUEN) organized an international panel discussion in the European Parliament, in Brussels, titled "Ignored Minorities in Greece: Western Thrace Turks and Macedonians."
The EFA message in Brussels was clear: "Greece's decision to veto an invitation to the Republic of Macedonia to join NATO is an irresponsible act motivated by its refusal to recognize the existence of a distinct Macedonian ethnic identity in the Republic of Macedonia as well as in Greece," which in part led to a violation of Articles 11 and 6 under the case of Ouranio Toxo v. Greece.
Tensions are increasing in South Central Europe as Greece banned the private airline, Macedonian Airlines ["M.A.T."] from flying to, from or over Greece, demanding that the corporation change its name to exclude the word "Macedonian" from its incorporated name. Also, Greece announced the imposition of an economic embargo banning the import of lamb meat from the Republic of Macedonia because of a label stating "imported from the Republic of Macedonia."
The USA, Germany and Britain are among many of the countries that want Greece to reach a meaningful compromise on the Macedonia name dispute soon. Nonetheless, the human rights violations in Greece, as represented in the case of Toxo v. Greece, remain an ongoing problem for the European Parliament because E.U. member state, Greece, refuses to abide by the European Court ruling says EFA.
Members of the "EFA [European Free Alliance] Rainbow Political Party of the Macedonian Minority in Greece" brought suit against Greece alleging government sponsored discrimination based on national origin, ethnicity, and religious discrimination.
Nearly three years later, Greece has not taken any affirmative steps to address and abide by the Court decision. As a result, on April 17, 2008, the EFA – European Political Party, in cooperation with the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), EFA – Rainbow (association of the Macedonian minority of Greece) and the Federal Union of the European Nationalities (FUEN) organized an international panel discussion in the European Parliament, in Brussels, titled "Ignored Minorities in Greece: Western Thrace Turks and Macedonians."
The EFA message in Brussels was clear: "Greece's decision to veto an invitation to the Republic of Macedonia to join NATO is an irresponsible act motivated by its refusal to recognize the existence of a distinct Macedonian ethnic identity in the Republic of Macedonia as well as in Greece," which in part led to a violation of Articles 11 and 6 under the case of Ouranio Toxo v. Greece.
Tensions are increasing in South Central Europe as Greece banned the private airline, Macedonian Airlines ["M.A.T."] from flying to, from or over Greece, demanding that the corporation change its name to exclude the word "Macedonian" from its incorporated name. Also, Greece announced the imposition of an economic embargo banning the import of lamb meat from the Republic of Macedonia because of a label stating "imported from the Republic of Macedonia."
The USA, Germany and Britain are among many of the countries that want Greece to reach a meaningful compromise on the Macedonia name dispute soon. Nonetheless, the human rights violations in Greece, as represented in the case of Toxo v. Greece, remain an ongoing problem for the European Parliament because E.U. member state, Greece, refuses to abide by the European Court ruling says EFA.
