STRASBOURG -- The European Parliament has adopted a resolution deploring human rights violations in Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniester.

The resolution, backed by all the main political groups, calls for an end to any form of pressure directed toward Romanian language-teaching institutions.

Lawmakers also called on the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to address the right to Romanian language education in the mainly Russian-speaking region at the next round of 5+2 negotiations later this month on the settlement of the Transdniester conflict.

The resolution urged the EU to play a stronger part in resolving the conflict, including the enhancement of the EU’s status from observer to that of a negotiating partner.

It also says the presence of Russian troops in Transdniester leads to “a climate that endangers respect for and promotion of human rights in the region.”