Subject: Respect for the fundamental rights of ethnic and linguistic minorities in partner countries
In the light of the regulations recently adopted in Ukraine that will limit the use of Romanian in educational institutions and in other public spheres, can the Commission answer the following questions relating to the protection of the rights of national minorities, including the Romanian community in Ukraine, in line with the European Union’s principles of respect for linguistic and cultural diversity:
1. What concrete steps is the Commission taking to monitor and uphold the rights of linguistic minorities, and in particular the Romanian community in Ukraine, in the light of these recently-adopted regulations, which may affect linguistic and cultural identity, and to what extent do those regulations comply with international standards, such as the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages?
2. How can the Commission promote a productive dialogue between the Ukrainian authorities and representatives of the Romanian community in order to find fair solutions that protect the linguistic and cultural rights of that minority, in line with European Union values?
3. What monitoring and intervention mechanisms does the European Union have at its disposal to ensure respect for the fundamental rights of ethnic and linguistic minorities in partner countries such as Ukraine?
Submitted: 20.11.2024
Answer given by Ms Kos on behalf of the European Commission
(17 February 2025)
The rights of persons belonging to minorities are fundamental values of the EU and are part of the Copenhagen criteria for accession to the EU.
In June 2024, the Commission confirmed that Ukraine had fulfilled the requirement to enact a law addressing the remaining Venice Commission recommendations from June and October 2023 linked by amending in December 2023 the law on national minorities as well as the laws on state language, media and education (1).
Subsequently, the EU invited Ukraine, in the Negotiating Framework, to prepare an Action Plan on national minoritie s (2). As part of the accession process, the Commission conducts a screening of Ukraine’s alignment with the EU acquis in the field of fundamental rights, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities.
The Commission consistently conveys the message, in bilateral contacts with Ukrainian counterparts, that it is expected that Ukraine will continue to implement the adopted legislation adequately and effectively, in line with European standards and as part of a constructive mutual dialogue with the representatives of the national minorities.
The Commission will continue to follow closely the Ukraine government’s ongoing dialogues with representatives of persons belonging to national minorities, including the representatives of Ukraine’s Romanian national minority.
The Commission is also assisting Ukraine in its reform efforts, by supporting the project ‘ Support for implementing European standards relating to anti-discrimination and rights of national minorities in Ukraine’ implemented by the Council of Europe (3).
1 ∙ ⸱ Venice Commission Opinion (June 2023) (https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2023)021-e) and Venice
Commission Follow-up Opinion (October 2023) (https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-AD(2023)028-e). 2 ∙ ⸱ https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/06/25/eu-opens-accession-negotiations-with-ukraine/ 3 ∙ ⸱ https://www.coe.int/en/web/kyiv/support-for-implementing-european-standards-relating-to-anti-discrimination-and-rights-of-national-minorities-in-ukraine