BRUSSELS - The European Union must find bolder, more effective ways to protect minority rights within its own borders, a UN expert said today.
"The European Union is instrumental in advocating for minority rights outside its borders, especially through its enlargement policy, but lacks the tools and motivation to effectively address minority issues within the bloc. This gap must be closed to guarantee better protection of minorities within the EU," said Nicolas Levrat, the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues, in a statement at the end of his visit to the EU.
"Respect for the human rights of persons belonging to minorities is one of the founding values of the EU," Levrat said, noting that, as the Commission does not recognise a clear EU competence in this area, the EU cannot adopt laws, policies or binding measures that directly protect minorities. As an alternative, the EU should promote an approach that compels Member States to uphold this founding value.
While commending the EU's anti-discrimination approach, which covers all minority groups including migrants and their descendants, the Special Rapporteur urged the European Commission to adopt a more comprehensive framework for minority rights. "This would ensure a more streamlined approach to minority issues across the EU and address the needs of linguistic minorities, who are currently left out of EU strategies and policies," he said.
He also welcomed the financial support for minority-focused civil society initiatives in third countries and encouraged this focus be applied to civil society actors inside the EU.
The expert expressed profound concern about the lack of diversity among EU staff. He noted that, despite recent efforts to address this issue, minorities - especially racialised and ethnic minorities - remain severely underrepresented within the EU's institutions, bodies, and agencies.
"The EU's workforce remains far from representative of the diversity found within the EU," Levrat said. "EU institutions, agencies and bodies must accelerate efforts to recruit and retain more personnel belonging to minorities."
The Special Rapporteur welcomed the EU's newly adopted anti-racism strategy and urged EU Member States to step up efforts to recognise the ongoing negative impact of Europe's colonial legacy on racialised minorities.
The expert will present a full report to the Human Rights Council in March 2027.
