“The decision of the EC refuses the partnership offer of the European national and linguistic minorities. In my opinion the EC made a political decision, because this initiative - wanting to enforce minority rights - was properly prepared both legally and technically. I consider that the biggest success of our initiative is the achievement of the European minority solidarity. Our common proposals remains valid for the future, regardless the answer of the EC”– stated Kelemen Hunor, the president of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ) after the European Commission refused the registration of the Minority SafePack European Citizen’s Initiative. The members of the initiation committee were informed of this decision in a letter dated on the 16th of September.

European Commission Secretary General Catherine Day argues that the issues addressed in the initiative fall manifestly outside the framework of the Commission's power to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties. Respecting personal rights of people belonging to a national minority is one of the European Union’s fundamental values, but neither the European Union Treaty, nor the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU contain basis for adopting legal measures regarding the personal rights of minority citizens.

Kelemen Hunor announced that the RMDSZ suggests appealing against this decision at the General Court of the European Union, after consulting with the members of the Initiation Committee. The president of RMDSZ explained: “even at first reading there are contradictions in the reasoning statement, since it acknowledges that in the 6 policy areas there are some which individually fall within the competences of the European Treaties, but the whole proposal was rejected, stating that “the initiative falls manifestly outside the framework of the Commission’s powers.” In our view, partialness does is not unequivocal, thus, the legal argumentation contradicts itself. In the coming days we will make an in-depth analysis of the legal argumentation.”

“It is not easy to face this refusal but since the union level regulation of minority rights - seemingly - needs EU competence, in the future the creation of these competences will be our goal. This opportunity could be brought with the future modifications of the European treaties. We will have to be prepared for this. The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ) does not fight on only one front line for the extension of European rights of the national minorities. The Minority Intergroup will submit again an initiative to the European Parliament in which they will ask for the protection of national minorities and for the extension of their rights." – stated the President of the RMDSZ.

President Kelemen pointed out, that the Hungarian community of Romania chose the European path as early as the 1990’s, and so he hopes, that the time will come, when the wall of rejection to deal with minority issues on an union level will finally fall in the European Union.

“European national minorities are state stability factors; they contribute to the European economy and strengthen the historical regions of Europe. The EU, and the nation states that refuse to deal with this issue should realize, that minority laws don’t take away from the rights of a majority, but enrich Europe’s ethnic and linguistic diversity” – stressed Kelemen Hunor.

“The Hungarian community of Romania gazes into the future, and continues to aim for the legal enforcement of minority rights. To this end, we have developed a purposeful, well organised long term action plan, which can only be implemented with a strong presence in the European Parliament.” – declared the President of the RMDSZ.