Minority Integration Policies at the National and European Level

Abstract

The purpose of public policies in the field of national minorities can be dual, namely, to protect the specific (cultural, linguistic, ethnic) identity of people belonging to national minorities, and to ensure harmonious coexistence between majority and minorities, as well as between minorities themselves. Thus, this paper aims to analyses the policies and measures defined at national level in the field of minority integration, as well as European models or regulations with rank of recommendations for Member States. To this end, have been resorted to qualitative methodology instruments as data analysis and case study. According to the OSCE, ”to support the integration process, [are needed], policies, to create a society in which diversity is respected and in which all people, including all members of ethnic, linguistic, cultural or religious groups, contribute to building and maintaining a civic, common and inclusive identity”. Therefore, the research questions on which the paper focuses, refer firstly to the extent to which Romania has managed to apply minority integration policies, and secondly, what are the European models that Member States could follow in order to ensure an efficient and substantial regulation and application of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities.