Congress on Minorities in Opole

Our researchers, Dr. Hanna Vasilevich and Dr. Mattia Zeba, are presenting their work at the Congress on Minorities in Opole (Poland). Dr. Vasilevich’s presentation, entitled “Rushed Reforms: Evaluating Ukraine's National Minority Legislation Amidst EU Integration Aspirations” is part of Section 9: Multiculturalism, Integration vs. Distinctiveness, which addresses the balance between identity protection and full participation in society.

Dr. Zeba’s presentation, entitled “Interpreting Linguistic Diversity: The Judiciary and the Legal Boundaries of Minority Language Protection in Italy”, has been included in Section 2: Rights of National and Ethnic Minorities: From Theory to Practice.

Dr. Vasilevich will examine the legislative changes introduced in Ukraine in 2022 and 2023, focusing on the Law on National Minorities (Communities) and its subsequent amendments. These reforms, driven by Ukraine’s EU integration goals, will be critically assessed in terms of their alignment with European standards and their actual impact on minority communities.

The presentation is part of Dr. Vasilevich’s ongoing research project, “Securitization of minority rights in Eastern Europe: how to overcome negative trends and use best practices from other regions?”, funded by the Autonomous Province of Bolzano/Bozen – South Tyrol. Her analysis will highlight both the progress and the limitations of Ukraine’s approach, offering recommendations for more inclusive and sustainable minority rights policies.