Recent weeks have yielded “positive signs” in the dialogue between Ukraine and Hungary concerning the treatment of national minorities, as expressed by Hungarian State Secretary Tristan Azbej on May 7.
According to Azbej, who spoke before an EU ministers gathering in Brussels, progress has been made but there remains a distance to cover before Hungary’s requirements on minority rights are fully realized. He stated, “In the last weeks we have seen some positive signs, but we still have some way to go until all our demands regarding the minority rights are met.”
The topic of ethnic Hungarians residing in southwestern Ukraine has been a matter of contention, with Budapest lodging accusations of discrimination against Kyiv, which the Ukrainian government refutes.
At the heart of these tensions lies Ukraine’s language policy mandating that education from fifth grade and onwards is conducted at least 70% in Ukrainian.
While Hungary views this as biased against its minority, Ukraine maintains it is a measure to ensure all citizens proficiently understand the national language.
Hungary’s 11-point proposal to Ukraine includes demands for the re-establishment of a national school, the option to complete high school examinations in Hungarian, and the right to use the Hungarian language in public settings.
In March, RFE/RL disclosed that Hungary had communicated a critique of Ukraine’s minority policy to other EU member states, advocating for a reinstatement of pre-2015 minority rights, citing the significance of these rights in Ukraine’s potential EU accession talks.
Hungary is seeking political representation at regional and national levels for its minority. The Ukrainian response to these demands has not been made public.
After recommendations by the European Commission in June 2022, the Ukrainian parliament adopted legislation in September 2023 to reform the national minority laws. President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted these changes in November.
Additionally, in January, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced the formation of a dedicated commission between Ukraine and Hungary to address unresolved national minority issues, aiming for a mutual understanding within ten days.
FAQs
- Why is Hungary concerned about Ukraine’s national minority policies?
- Hungary has expressed concerns that Ukraine’s language laws and other policies are discriminatory towards the Hungarian ethnic minority living in Ukraine, particularly in the area of education and public life.
- What kind of changes is Hungary asking Ukraine to make?
- Hungary’s 11-point request includes measures such as restoring the status of national schools, allowing high school exams to be conducted in Hungarian, and ensuring the use of the Hungarian language in public life.
- What steps has Ukraine taken in response to the concerns raised?
- Ukraine has made legislative changes to its national minority laws as recommended by the European Commission and has established a special commission with Hungary to further address these issues.
Conclusion
The ongoing dialogue between Hungary and Ukraine regarding the rights of national minorities seems to be moving in a positive direction. While challenges remain, recent developments indicate a commitment on both sides to resolve issues related to education policy and language use, which are critical for Hungary’s ethnic minority in Ukraine. The establishment of a special commission and legislative reforms are steps towards a mutual understanding that align with broader European integration processes. Support for independent journalism remains vital for bringing attention to such diplomatic efforts and to the situation of national minorities across Ukraine.
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