The European Union has to defend national minorities!

The European Parliament has adopted its report on the institutional relations between the European Union and the Council of Europe on Tuesday. According to Fidesz MEP László Trócsányi both international organizations play an important role in Europe. However, it is regrettable that the Union’s role in the protection of indigenous national minorities is not satisfactory, as proved by the Commission’s cynical response to the Minority Safepack European citizens’ initiative.

The MEP explained that the foundation of both organizations can be traced back to the period after the Second World War and it is no coincidence that their relationship is characterized by partnership. On the one hand, it is gratifying that the report focuses on the situation of national minorities; on the other, it is regrettable that the EU’s role in this area is not satisfactory, even though the Treaties make the protection of national minorities the responsibility of the Union.

“The European Commission gave a cynical, dismissive response to the Minority Safepack European citizens’ initiative. We consider it important for the European Union to prove that it does not interpret the provisions of the Treaties selectively, according to its whims, but can be a defender of the rights of national minorities,” he said.

MEP László Trócsányi stated: “It is unfortunate that the text calls on the Council to ratify the Istanbul Convention, that several member states have not yet joined. The Union should not put pressure on the Member States like this. The decision to ratify the Convention falls under national competence, so the report cannot be supported in its current form.“