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Protection of minorities

European Commission�

DG NEAR

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European Union

Article 2 Treaty on European Union
Article 21 "non-discrimination" Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Copenhagen criteria for membership of the European Union

Article 2 TEU: The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail.

Article 21 Charter: 1. Any discrimination based on any ground such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation shall be prohibited.

The accession criteria, or Copenhagen criteria (after the European Council in Copenhagen in 1993 which defined them), are the essential conditions all candidate countries must satisfy to become a member state. These are:

political criteria: stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities;

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Council of Europe

Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM)

Adopted 10 November 1994 by the Committee of Ministers and it entered into force on 1 February 1998. It has 39 States parties.

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Other Council of Europe texts

The European Convention on Human Rights

The European Social Charter

The Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance

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OSCE

OSCE Human Dimension Commitments

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Thank you very much ��for your attention!�

European Commission�

DG NEAR

Centre of Expertise on Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights