The EU requires Serbia to guarantee minority rights, including access to education, use of minority languages, access to media and religious services in minority languages, and adequate representation in public administration.
This was stated by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy and Security Josep Borrell, BGNES reported. He sent a letter to MEPs, who in December 2023 warned Brussels about the systematic trampling of the rights of the Bulgarian minority by Serbia over a century.
BGNES Agency publishes Borel's position without abbreviations:
Dear Members of the European Parliament,
Thank you for your letter of December 7, 2023, regarding your concerns regarding the treatment of the Bulgarian minority in the Republic of Serbia.
Let me emphasize that in the framework of the EU accession negotiations, the European Commission is closely monitoring the overall state of the rule of law in Serbia, including the treatment of people belonging to national minorities. Under Chapter 23 "Judiciary and Fundamental Rights" of the accession negotiations, Serbia is required to implement its legal framework on the rights of representatives of minorities. This includes in particular education, use of minority languages, access to media and religious services in minority languages, and adequate representation in public administration. Serbia is also expected to fully implement its "action plan to guarantee the rights of national minorities". A detailed assessment of Serbia's progress in this regard is presented in the Report on Serbia 2023. The Commission will continue to engage with Serbia on these issues, and the EU Delegation to Serbia maintains regular contact with the Embassy of Bulgaria in Serbia.
The Commission expects all partners in the region to foster an atmosphere of mutual trust and promote good neighborly relations and regional cooperation. /BGNES
