Statement: The European Commission should pay attention to citizens' Minority SafePack Initiative

​Statement by the co-presidents, Satu Haapanen and Bernd Voß​​​

We were astonished by the European Commission’s communication (15 January) on the implementation of the citizens’ initiative, ‘Minority SafePack Initiative’. We believe it is a shame that the Commission does not see itself in a position to implement its own obligations under the European treaties for the protection of national minorities. Across Europe, 1.2 million people have defended the rights for national minorities through this citizens’ initiative. However, the European Commission sees no need for action, abandoning millions of members of minorities without the much needed change. Within the European Committee of the Regions’ Resolution on the 2021 Work Programme of the European Commission, the Greens achieved majority support for the citizens’ initiative for more minority protection in the EU – but too many do not seem to recognise the importance of Europe growing together.

Despite the justified disappointment, one should not forget what has been achieved in recent years: with this initiative, minorities have shown that the European project is present also at regional and local levels, and importantly outside of the conferences and ceremonies in Brussels. This can make an important difference. Minorities live in the regions and municipalities of their respective Member States. They know what is happening locally and regionally and are often bilingual. However, they are not only rooted in their regions, but they also think European. It is impressive that the MSPI was able to collect over a million signatures; to draw attention to the catastrophic state of minority and language rights unfortunately still prevailing in some parts of Europe; to urge the European Union to act; and even to defeat the European Commission at the European Court of Justice. The non-reaction of the European Commission is shameful.​