FUEN President Loránt Vincze presented the Minority SafePack Initiative at the plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee

„In the interest of achieving our ultimate goal, the creation of an EU level legislative framework for minority protection, it is crucial that we present our proposal and the value of minorities at every opportunity we get. Therefore, it is significant, that we speak about the Minority SafePack proposal, the fifth European Citizen’s Initiative ever to succeed, in an EU institution not usually dealing in minority protection”, stated Loránt Vincze. He presented the initiative during the Brussels plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee on Thursday.

The European Economic and Social Committee, an EU institution established in 1958 representing the interests of NGOs, labour unions, advocacy and employer’s organisations, is consulted by the European Commission on a variety of subjects. As an originator of the European Citizen’s Initiative system, it assists Citizen’s Committees with advice and translating services and has formulated numerous recommendations regarding the reform of the ECI system.

President of the Committee Luca Jahier introduced the presentation of Loránt Vincze. He spoke about the success of the Minority SafePack but also about the limitations and difficulties of the European Citizen’s Initiative stating there is a democratic deficit at an EU level. He added that the possibility of a citizen’s initiatives is included in the EU treaties, yet this tool is fruitless. Although the ECI made it possible for citizen’s to exercise their rights of having a say in the decision making process, as of now none of the initiatives securing the necessary number of statements of support has become a law. 

Loránt Vincze asked the 350 members of the Committee to talk to the political decision makers in their respective states before the EU elections and convince them of the importance of supporting national minorities and language groups. „Civil society, your organisations and networks have a role to play in eliminating the democratic deficit of the EU“, stressed the FUEN President.