Source: European Parliament
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 minorities[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