1196 | 388 | Proposed basic principles for the protection of national minorities | Dr. Katalin Szili and Ferenc Kalmár
Proposed basic principles for the protection of national minorities_x000D_
Abstracts_x000D_
As a result of history, the territories of European countries do not coincide perfectly with the lands where nations live. Some are spread beyond the borders of their nation states. At present more than 50 million people in the European Union are members of autochthonous national minorities. In order to manage the problems that threaten to erase many of Europe’s ethnic/national minorities, the concept of the nation state needs to be revised, considering that the era of exclusionist nation states is at an end._x000D_
The concept of the inclusive nation state based on democratic rights should prevail. _x000D_
European history provides ample evidence that an inadequate response to national minority issues is a main cause of conflict and human rights violations. To maintain peace and stability on the continent, we propose the inclusion of the following five basic principles in the European legislature._x000D_
1. National minority issues are not a domestic issue, but a European one. _x000D_
2. The protection of national minorities should be based on the right to identity. 3. In order to protect identity, both individual and collective rights need to be guaranteed. _x000D_
4. Citizenship and national identity are separate concepts that do not necessarily coincide. _x000D_
5. National minorities living in the territory of a member state are constituent elements of that state._x000D_
Acceptance of the above principles as legal axioms is a basic condition for the creation of a new Pax Europaea, which will provide an opportunity for Europe to redefine itself in a global world while preserving its core values. Only legally binding legislation based on this agreement can bring true equality between nations, parts of nations and national minorities in Europe including Central Europe. _x000D_
Dr. Katalin Szili and Ferenc Kalmár
Hungarian Prime Minister’s Office; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Hungary
ID Abstract: 388