UN Rapporteur Calls on EU to Take Stronger Action on Minority Rights
“The European Union is instrumental in advocating for minority rights outside its borders … but lacks the tools and motivation to effectively address minority issues within the bloc,” Nicolas Levrat said in a statement at the conclusion of his visit to the EU. “This gap must be closed to guarantee better protection of minorities within the EU.”
Levrat emphasized that respect for minority rights is “one of the founding values of the EU,” but noted that the European Commission does not recognize a clear competence in this area, which prevents the bloc from adopting binding legislation to directly protect minorities. He recommended that the EU develop mechanisms that compel member states to uphold these values.
While welcoming the EU’s anti-discrimination framework, Levrat called for a “more comprehensive framework for minority rights,” pointing out that linguistic minorities are largely excluded from current strategies and policies.
He also raised concerns about the lack of diversity within EU institutions, noting that minorities, particularly racialized and ethnic groups, remain “severely underrepresented” despite recent efforts. “The EU's workforce remains far from representative of the diversity found within the EU,” he said, urging faster recruitment and retention of staff from minority backgrounds.
Levrat praised the bloc’s newly adopted anti-racism strategy and said he will present a full report to the Human Rights Council in March 2027.
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