NORTHERN AND CENTRAL-EASTERN EUROPE MODELS OF CULTURAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE IDENTITY

Abstract

: THE PROTECTION OF NATIONAL AND ETHNIC MINORITIES REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AT EUROPEAN LEVEL. THE GOAL OF THE MAIN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IS TO CONSOLIDATE A COMPLEX NORMATIVE SYSTEM IN COLLABORATION WITH THEIR MEMBER STATES, FUNCTIONING AS A BASIS FOR IDENTITY PRESERVATION. TO FACILITATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MEASURES, STATES NEED TO DEVELOP AND CONTINUOUSLLY STRENGHTEN THEIR NATIONAL LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK IN THIS RESPECT. SINCE EACH ETHNIC GROUP HAS ITS OWN SPECIAL NEEDS, THIS SYSTEM HAS TO BE ADAPTED AND ADJUSTED IN ORDER TO ENSURE INTEGRATION, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, TO RESPECT THEIR DISTINCT CHARACTER. THIS REQUIRES GOOD DIALOGUE AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND MINORITIES. THIS ARTICLE AIMS AT POINTING OUT THE WAY IN WHICH COUNTRIES FROM DIFFERENT REGIONS OF EUROPE, NAMELY CENTRAL-EASTERN AND NORTHERN EUROPE, HAVE DECIDED TO MANAGE MINORITY PROTECTION AND IF THEIR APPROACH HAS A DIFFERENT HISTORICAL AND GEOPOLITICAL LOGIC.