Introduction: The Outlook for the Protection of Minorities in the Wider Europe

Abstract

Europe often considers itself the global champion of the legal provision for minorities. After all, the Council of Europe has generated the world’s only legally binding treaties on minority rights in general and on language rights in particular. Compliance with minority rights has been imposed as one of the conditions for entry into the EU of the states of Central and Eastern Europe. Furthermore the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has even created an institution to address issues concerning minorities, the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM). Moreover, the EU seeks to promote the position of minorities in its external relations, especially in its near abroad, in states adjoining the newly expanded EU boundaries.KeywordsHigh CommissionerNational MinorityConflict PreventionMinority IssueTreaty MonitoringThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.