Minority Rights in the European Union after Lisbon

The Treaty of Lisbon introduced some profound changes in the European Union. Those of highest relevance for national minorities will be considered in this contribution. First, the fact that minorities for the first time entered primary law is addressed. Secondly, the new legal status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights is scrutinised in order to determine whether this has special implications for minorities. Thirdly, the accession of the European Union to the European Convention of Human Rights is addressed, as minorities have a special interest in this. Similarly, citizen initiatives are not changes exclusive to minorities; however, using the Minority Safepack as an example, it is shown how minorities can at least potentially profit from this change in the treaties. Five years after entering into force, the Lisbon Treaty does not seem to have made much of a difference for national minorities.