Hungary’s parliament on Wednesday adopted a resolution declaring its continued support for Minority SafePack, an initiative urging European Union protection for national and linguistic minorities in the bloc.
The European Commission earlier this year said that a wide range of measures had been taken to address the issues outlined in the initiative since it was launched in 2013, and that EU policies already in place provided “a powerful arsenal” to support the initiative’s goals.
Parliament in the resolution expressed its “shock” over the EC’s decision to “completely reject” the initiative after it had been backed by a vast majority of MEPs. By rejecting the initiative, the commission had ignored not just the EP’s support of it, but also “the will of European citizens”, the resolution said.
Parliament is convinced that by rejecting the initiative, the EC missed “a historic opportunity” to demonstrate its commitment to supporting European national minorities through the implementation of specific measures, the document said.
The resolution was approved with 157 votes in favour and 1 against.
featured image: Szekler flags; illustration via Zoltán Máthé/MTI
