EPP members of the European Parliament committed for the protection of traditional minorities in the EU have organised a public hearing on the topic on April 22, 2015 at the European Parliament. High level experts and politicians from all around Europe debated the question and have agreed that the EU should elaborate the ways forward with regard the protection of traditional minorities in the EU. In order to build up a European minority protection system, common European standards and institutional framework have to be set up.

"A future EU minority protection system should be a two-step structure, based on the common European minority protection standards and at the same time on the distinct concerns of each minority community taken into account by a member state's national legislation. I strongly hope that the EPP will be the driving force in Europe also in the important matter." - emphasized MEP József Nagy (Híd-Most party, Slovakia) in his opening speech at the hearing. 

“National minorities are constituent entities of many of the EU member states. I expect the EU and the member states concerned to consider such minorities as an enrichment of their political, cultural and social landscape. Loyal minorities and generous majorities should complement each other’s efforts for a good common future.” – pointed out MEP Michael Gahler (CDU, Germany)

"I highly appreciate the fact that today's hearing was held with the close cooperation of MEPs belonging to Hungarian minority living in different Member States and with the support of German, South-Tyrolean and Catalan MEPs. I also find it important that we called on the leadership of the EPP Group to develop a guideline on further steps on the protection of traditional minorities." - highlighted MEP Pál Csáky, (MKP, Slovakia)

“There are plenty of possibilities in the current legislative foundation of the EU that would allow us taking proactive steps for benefiting traditional minorities who are contributors to Europe’s rich diversity. We have the best examples of minority protection in our Member States, just think about South Tyrol or Schleswig-Hohlstein. I believe that minority rights should benefit all minorities, not just some of them.” – said MEP Monika Hohlmeier, (CSU, Germany), EPP coordinator of the LIBE Committee of the European Parliament.

MEP Kinga Gál (FIDESZ, Hungary), co-chair of the Minority Intergroup, following the hearing underlined: "This hearing reflects also the results of the work of the last 10 years. While the endangered species are protected by EU legislation, national and linguistic minorities are not protected by any acquis. Non-discrimination regulations are not sufficient. The European Commission consistently denies the adoption of EU legislation in the field; however, the Lisbon Treaty has created ground for this. The European Citizens Initiative on the topic supported by hundred thousands has also been rejected. The European Parliamentdue to the lack of political will has not adopted a resolution regarding the protection of national minorities since 2005; therefore, it would be timely to move one."

MEP Herbert Dorfmann (Südtiroler Volkspartei, Italy) said: “Regarding minority issues in Europe actually we can learn from each other. We have existing models – one of them is the autonomy of my region, South Tyrol. It could be an example for other regions in Europe but also beyond our borders, for example in Ukraine.”

MEP Csaba Sógor (RMDSZ, Romania) stated: 
"The European Union has to address the issue of the assimilation process the autochthonous (traditional) national minorities are going through. These communities have been living in the same regions for centuries, they have not migrated, but state borders have changed around them. Every community is unique, but they all share the same need for guaranteeing the enforcement of the minority protection laws, so they may use their language, and preserve their culture and identity. The European Union should encourage Member States to exchange best practices in terms of minority protection measures" – pointed out RMDSZ MEP Csaba Sógor who believes today's hearing will inspire momentum for the European minority protection.