Minorities in Europe: Croatia, Estonia and Slovakia

States having minorities on their territory have a duty to undertake all measures aimed at avoiding conflicts which might develop, but they also have a duty to develop norms and guarantee systems which go hand in hand with the current international standards of safeguarding human rights, multiculturalism and pluralism.

Minorities in Europe highlights three aspects of minority situations: political/security, internal legal, and economic aspects, in the cases of Croatia, Estonia and Slovakia. These countries achieved independence as a result of the post-Cold War dissolution of their predecessor States. In all three, there is a relatively complex minority situation which is, inter alia, a result of changing State borders. Thereafter, all three have undergone a transformation of their political and economic systems.

This volume contributes to pinpointing those minority aspects where the real problems lie and to the means and mechanisms for adequate protection to be afforded to minority groups. But note: the choice of Croatia, Estonia and Slovakia does not undermine the fact that a similar analysis as regards other European countries would equally contribute to pinpointing those minority aspects where problems lie, and to the means and mechanisms for adequate protection to be afforded to minority groups.