Respect for fundamental rights and the protection of minorities and their rights are of fundamental importance in the EU accession process, Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement, stated in Brussels on Tuesday.
Olivér Várhelyi , organized by the minority working group of the European Parliament, reminded us at the conference held on the subject of minority rights in the EU enlargement process: the conditions for enlargement include the protection of the EU's basic values and principles, including human rights. The protection of national minorities is the same value as any other basic EU value, he underlined. It is necessary to help the countries awaiting accession to feel that they own the EU values, and to ensure that all this commitment is reflected in the national legislation. In order for minorities to contribute to the integrity of a given state, an equal process and full recognition of their rights, religion and beliefs is necessary, he said.
Countries awaiting accession must be made aware that respect for EU values is necessary not only during the accession process, but also after becoming a full member.Regarding Ukraine, Olivér Várhelyi said that the conflict complicates the situation of minorities living in the country and neighboring states. The support given to Ukraine aimed at implementing EU requirements also means helping the minorities living in the country, he underlined. The enlargement process should help minorities to live in even better conditions in the country, he added. At the same time, the Hungarian EU Commissioner stated that in the case of Ukraine, there are serious problems that need to be solved, including the issue of minority education and the use of minority languages. All these problems must be solved together with the minorities, he underlined.
"If the minorities are happy in the country where they live, then we can be sure that we have found the right solution".Gál Kinga , the chairman of the Fidesz European Parliament (EP) representative group, said in his speech that the experiences of the past twenty years show that the rights of traditional linguistic and national minorities can be guaranteed during the accession process.
"We often see in Brussels that they are not aware of the situation of the Hungarian, Romanian, and Bulgarian minorities living in Ukraine, which is why it is important to draw Europe's attention to rights-depriving and discriminatory practices," he said. The politician stated:
Ukraine can only join the European Union if it respects basic human rights and considers the national minorities living in the country as citizens with equal rights. [/button]
These communities could be the most committed supporters of Ukraine's EU perspective. However, the recently adopted Ukrainian laws that curtail the rights of minorities do not promote this, he pointed out. Ensuring minority and language rights should be a prerequisite for Ukraine's EU accession. And the first step for this must be the full restoration of the previously held rights of national minorities - pointed out Kinga Gál.
Andrea Bocskor , the Fidesz EP representative, said that the minorities living in Ukraine support the initiation of the country's EU accession process. Minorities have a positive attitude towards the majority and expect to be able to live as full-fledged, equal citizens in their homeland. He called it important that the issue of the rights of minorities be settled in a reassuring manner, as the law on national minorities adopted in December 2022 does not consider national minority communities as partners. It does not guarantee the same rights that previous laws provided. It not only takes away community rights, but also narrows individual opportunities, he pointed out.
"No one is against the fact that the state language should be learned, but not instead of or at the expense of the mother tongue. Therefore, we ask the institutions of the European Union to realize this and help us return to ensuring the previous rights".Loránt Vincze , the member of the European Parliament (EP) of the Romanian Hungarian Democratic Union (RMDSZ), emphasized in his speech that minorities do not threaten the majority society, the use of minority languages will never suppress the majority language. In order to ensure the use of languages by minorities, a legal system is needed that helps preserve the identity of minorities.
"Minorities must preserve their identity, and the protection of their rights is a state duty".László Brenzovics , the president of the Subcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association (KMKSZ), recalled that after the independence of Ukraine, the law obtained in 1992, which can be measured by European standards, provided extensive rights to minorities. However, they were lost by the Ukrainian minorities with the entry into force of the recently adopted education and language law, and then the minority law.
"We ask that our rights be restored in accordance with Ukraine's international obligations."The Transcarpathian minority hopes that minority rights will be restored during the EU accession process, because the European Union is a community of values, which includes the guarantee of minority rights, added László Brenzovics.
Source: MTI
(Header image: Facebook/Bocskor Andrea )
