Initiatives

THE BOLZANO/BOZEN DECLARATION ON MINORITY PROTECTION IN THE ENLARGED EU

In 2003 the Palais was the setting for a discussion about the status of minority protection in European Union law. Shortly before the second annus mirabilis – the 2004 EU enlargement - the question had arisen of the future of the Copenhagen Criteria after 1 May 2004. The Copenhagen criteria define which states qualify to become member states of the European Union. Amongst these criteria is also the "respect for and the protection of minorities". Would the protection of minorities fade away from the EU agenda once the bulk of new member states have joined the EU? It was decided in the Palais to assemble a group of high-powered experts to provide the European Union with the relevant assistance in the field of legal policy. Less than one year later, the Bolzano/Bozen Declaration was presented. The photo gallery shows the presentation of the declaration at the European Academy of Bozen/Bolzano.

LINKS:

• In May2004 the Bolzano/Bozen declaration on the protection of minorities in the enlarged European Union was handed over to the EU institutions. Some of the postulations contained therein were in the meantime fullfilled, others still wait to be addressed. A TV-interview is accessible here.

• The declaration was drafted in cooperation with the following renowned experts: Bruno de Witte, Erik Frieberg, Rachel Guglielmo, Rainer Hofmann, Frank Hoffmeister, Steve Peers and Gwendolyn Sasse. The various contributions of these personalities were published by the Open Society Initiative and the European Academy Bolzano/Bozen. The full text of this volume is available here: Minority Protection and the enlarged European Union: the way forward.