Theoretical Foundations of Political and Legal Norms of the European Union in the Field of the National Minorities’ Rights Protection

Abstract

The article analyzes the origins of contradictions between the actors of ethnopolitical processes amid the protection of national minorities and the connection of these phenomena with the relevant political and legal norms of the European Union. This international organization, on the one hand, strives to ensure peace and stability in Europe and, on the other hand, advocates the implementation of the principles of the rule of law, democracy and human rights in the practice of social relations of states that are its members or which express interest in integration. This requires the EU to pay special attention to the problems of inter-ethnic relations as an area with high conflict potential. Accordingly, European institutions have created a system of norms, the implementation and following of which are designed to reduce or eliminate negative scenarios of the development of such processes. The author defines the main subjects of inter-ethnic relations – host states, national minorities and kin states, in contacts between which contradictions may arise at the domestic and foreign policy levels. Attention is paid to the possible strategies of EU influence on the relations between such actors to find acceptable solutions and ensure social cohesion.