The EU’s credibility lies within the provision of minority rights – Csaba Sógor in Strasbourg about the minority issue
The question of minority rights was the topic of several debates during the February plenary session of the European Parliament.
The review of language rights of the national minorities living within
the borders of the EU took place at the meeting of the Intergroup for
Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages on February
12th. This was the first time, when the Intergroup, lead by co-president Kinga Gál, had a discussion with the staff of newly appointed commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, Viviane Reding.
Hungarian MEP from Transylvania, Csaba Sógor stated at the meeting that the Slovakian State Language Law does not protect minority rights and is beyond contradiction with the Charter for Fundamental Rights, as it is dangerous as well. The MEP considers that the law, in many respects, threatens fundamental values of the EU, such as the freedom of services and the common market as well. He suggested that if it is impossible to approach the issue from the point of view of the fundamental rights than it should be handled from a more practical standpoint.
Thanks to the devoted work of DAHR’s MEP the issues of infringement of minority rights world-wide came to the attention of the European decision-makers in the plenary that day while discussing the issues of shortcomings in the fields of human rights, democracy and rule of law.
While assessing the situation in Burma, Csaba Sógor reminded that the military junta promised to hold free elections this year. In his opinion it is very important that the international community and the EU maintain its pressure on the junta so that the promised democratic transition will really take place. All nationalities living in Burma need to be allowed to participate in the vote so that ethnic conflicts can be brought to an end.
- The EU would have credibility in its actions if all its member states would respect minority rights. The EU cannot be genuine and successful while there are state language laws in the EU territory, and I’m not only thinking about Slovakia, while collective guilt can be reaffirmed, while member states attack the being, mother tongue and rights of minorities.
Hungarian MEP from Transylvania, Csaba Sógor stated at the meeting that the Slovakian State Language Law does not protect minority rights and is beyond contradiction with the Charter for Fundamental Rights, as it is dangerous as well. The MEP considers that the law, in many respects, threatens fundamental values of the EU, such as the freedom of services and the common market as well. He suggested that if it is impossible to approach the issue from the point of view of the fundamental rights than it should be handled from a more practical standpoint.
Thanks to the devoted work of DAHR’s MEP the issues of infringement of minority rights world-wide came to the attention of the European decision-makers in the plenary that day while discussing the issues of shortcomings in the fields of human rights, democracy and rule of law.
While assessing the situation in Burma, Csaba Sógor reminded that the military junta promised to hold free elections this year. In his opinion it is very important that the international community and the EU maintain its pressure on the junta so that the promised democratic transition will really take place. All nationalities living in Burma need to be allowed to participate in the vote so that ethnic conflicts can be brought to an end.
- The EU would have credibility in its actions if all its member states would respect minority rights. The EU cannot be genuine and successful while there are state language laws in the EU territory, and I’m not only thinking about Slovakia, while collective guilt can be reaffirmed, while member states attack the being, mother tongue and rights of minorities.
