MEPs will vote on Tuesday 13 November on the own-initiative report drawn up by Slovak József Nagy (EPP) calling for the establishment of minimum standards for minorities in the EU.
Adopted by a large majority (44 votes in favour, 4 against and 4 abstentions) in the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties (LIBE) on 10 October, the draft report recognises persons belonging to minorities as “a special category with regard to the right to remedy and have specific needs that must be met if they are to be ensured full and effective equality”.
On the basis that there is no common EU standard in this area, the text asks the Commission to develop a common framework for the protection of minorities in the EU that should include at least: - guidelines setting out the good practices applicable in the Member States; - a Commission recommendation; - a legislative proposal for a directive, to be drafted following an impact assessment, including clear benchmarks and sanctions.
MEPs also encourage the Commission to set up a body at EU level - either within existing structures or by creating a separate body - responsible for the recognition and protection of minorities in the Union.
The text also emphasises linguistic diversity and calls for the 60 regional and minority languages to be granted official status. Members of Parliament also advocate the right to receive education in a minority language.
It should be noted that Polish MEP Marek Jurek (CRE) expressed, by a written statement, a minority opinion on the text that the proposed resolution was radically different from the original proposal.
“A document which was intended to confirm the rights of national minorities (...) has been exploited to promote a ‘mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights’ for which there is no basis in the Treaties and which is in fact an attempt to establish permanent, undue control over the Member States,” he denounced.
Brice Hortefeux (EPP, France) argued in a statement on Monday that the report's recommendations run counter to French constitutional principles by creating special rights for linguistic or ethnic minorities. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)