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Viktória Ferenc, MEP of Fidesz-KDNP, member of Patriots for Europe EP group, has called on Ukraine to fully restore the minority rights of Hungarians and other minorities in Transcarpathia.
Speaking after an EU-Ukraine Association Committee meeting, she urged Ukraine to fulfill its commitments on national minority rights to align with European standards. Ms. Ferenc expressed grave concerns over the potential impact of Ukraine’s draft amendment No. 12 086 to the Education Law. The proposed legislation seeks to enforce a Ukrainian-language environment in schools, which she said would severely limit the use of minority languages like Hungarian.
If passed, the law would restrict minority language use to classroom activities, mandating Ukrainian in all other interactions, including breaks and teacher discussions.
“Such a measure would not only violate fundamental human rights but also undermine the ability of national minorities to preserve their linguistic and cultural identity,” she stated.
The draft law has sparked alarm among minority representatives, as it threatens to eliminate Hungarian language use in private conversations on school premises. The politician emphasized, “the time has come to fully restore the minority rights of Hungarians and other minorities in Transcarpathia within the legal framework.”
She also underscored the importance of aligning Ukraine’s legislative measures with EU accession requirements.
During the meeting, she urged constructive dialogue between the Ukrainian government and minority representatives.
Viktória Ferenc expressed hope that cooperation would ensure the preservation of minority rights. “I trust that with the involvement of real representatives of minorities, a constructive solution can be achieved to protect their freedoms,” she concluded.
Ukraine’s Deputy PM, Olga Stefanishyna, present at the meeting, assured that no such restrictions had been included in proposed bills submitted to the government. However, Ms. Ferenc stressed the urgency of addressing these concerns to maintain EU integration momentum and protect minority identities.
Via MTI; Featured Image: Facebook / Potápi Árpád János