Theory Of The European Union To Protect Regional Ethnic Minorities

After Cold War, the minority problem has developed into a hot issue in Europe,such as ethnic problems plagued in east-central Europe, national separatism andexclusivism in western Europe, particular minorities like Muslin immigrants and theRoma. Minority protection has become one of the central issues in EU due to EUeastern enlargement.From then on, EU has taken a series of minority protection measures and madesome progress. Overall policies include Copenhagen Accord, Maastricht Treaty,Treaty of Amsterdam and other policies in specific areas. Targeted policies includeannual reports,2000Agenda, join partnership and other declarations and reports. EUpolicy on Roma protection is a case study in this paper.Up till now, many problems remain unsolved such as “double standard”,“binarystructure”, lack of detailed policies with unequal ideas,“democratic deficit” and so on.Previous minority problems in western Europe and new ethnic problems in newaccession countries are both facing EU. EU must base on the cause and characteristicof each kind of minority problems to establish corresponding policies. People areexpecting more new and effective policies to come out.