Established minority rights should not be diminished

"The 21st of January is about the launching of the accession negotiations between Serbia and European Union and Serbia deserves maximum praise for all its efforts hitherto. It is regrettable, however, that there is something of a shadow over this day in the light of the decision of the Serbian Constitutional Court of 16 January, which looks as if it intensifies the centralising tendencies coming from Belgrade" –  drew attention to these developments MEP György Schöpflin, EPP shadow rapporteur for Serbia.
 
"The provisions which have now been declared invalid by the Serbian Constitutional Court were part of a set of collective minority rights, which the Hungarian National Council and the other minority national councils in Vojvodina have enjoyed for years. It will be vital to see, therefore, how the Serbian parliament is planning to modify these legal provisions to ensure that the existing level of minority rights would not be prejudiced, as that would be unacceptable" – stressed MEP Kinga Gál Fidesz MEP.
 
Furthermore the two MEPs called upon the Commission to follow closely these developments in Serbia and to do everything to ensure that the existing level of minority rights remains untouched.