2013-11-21

During its November plenary session, the European Parliament adopted a resolution in the case of Előd Tóásó and Mario Tadić, through which the institution demands a fair and independent trial from the Bolivian authorities. 

The Tóásó case was discussed in the PE on 21 November, following the initiative of EPP MEP Kinga Gál. In a debate entitled “Ensuring justice in Bolivia, considering especially the case of Előd Tóásó and Mario Tadić”, the RMDSZ MEP, Csaba Sógor, emphasized that the European Union cannot allow for its citizens to be intimidated and detained in third countries without judgement.

He showed that at present in Bolivia two EU citizens are illegally jailed, while two of their colleagues were killed in unclear circumstances. “It is possible that we will never totally understand the internal politics of Bolivia or this case, but it is evident that the procedure launched against the two is neither independent, nor impartial”, explained the MEP.

The MEP also showed that Bolivia is a state whose fifth commercial partner is the EU and where 65% of productive capital comes from Europe. In Latin America Bolivia is the biggest beneficiary of EU bilateral cooperation and development aid. At the same time we are not capable of protecting our own citizens and ensuring the observance of international human rights treaties in this country”, said Sógor.

Besides ensuring a fair trial, the EP resolution also calls for an urgent independent inquiry into the deaths of Árpád Magyarósi, Michael Martin Dwyer and Eduardo Rózsa-Flores through the inclusion of international experts. In turn, the European External Action Service was called upon to treat this issue as a priority in bilateral relations with Bolivia and to take concrete measures.