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Recommendation 2040 (2014)[1]
Provisional version

 

The situation and rights of national minorities in Europe

 

Parliamentary Assembly

1. Recalling its Resolution 1985 (2014) on the situation and rights of national minorities in Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly expresses its concern in this regard.

2. The Assembly stresses the importance of stability, solidarity and peaceful coexistence of a multitude of people in Europe and calls for the promotion of the “unity through diversity” concept within and between countries.

3. Minority protection should remain a priority on the political agenda in order to address minorities’ needs and protect their rights and human dignity. An efficient protection of the rights of national minorities contributes to preventing conflicts, to achieving the vision of Europe as a home for all and to creating a peaceful and prosperous environment.

4. The Assembly therefore asks the Committee of Ministers to:

4.1. develop confidence-building programmes with a focus on minority issues, addressed to Council

of Europe member States;

4.2. ensure that the Council of Europe Schools ofPolitical Studies address the issue of traditional

national minorities in a comprehensive manner, giving consideration as well to the fact that the promotion and protection of the rightsof persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contribute to the political and social stability of States in which they live;

4.3. through its competent committees of experts, draw up training programmes and organise

seminars for history teachers and media representatives, especially for those working in ethnically mixed regions, in order to educate young people in the spirit of tolerance and co-operation throughout Europe.