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Minority Issues in Latvia’s EU Accession

Minority Issues in Latvia’s EU Accession. Nils Muižnieks Director, ASPRI University of Latvia. Three arenas of contestation:. 1. In Latvian-European Union relations: - as political criteria 2. In Latvian-Russian relations:

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Minority Issues in Latvia’s EU Accession

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  1. Minority Issues in Latvia’s EU Accession Nils Muižnieks Director, ASPRI University of Latvia

  2. Three arenas of contestation: 1. In Latvian-European Union relations: - as political criteria 2. In Latvian-Russian relations: - Russia’s attempts to use minority issue to hinder EU accession 3. In Latvian-minority relations: - minority attempts to involve the EU, Russia, and other organisations in their battles

  3. Latvia’s Minority Landscape (2007) • Latvians: 59.0% • Russians: 28.3% • Belarussians: 3.7% • Ukrainians: 2.5% • Poles: 2.4% • Others: 4.1%

  4. Russian Share in Major Cities (2007) • Daugavpils 53.3% • Rezekne 48.5% • Riga 42.1% • Jurmala 35.9% • Liepaja 32.9% • Ventspils 29.8% • Jelgava 29.6%

  5. Similarities White, Christian Intermarriage Socioeconomic status Both traumatised Both alienated from government Differences Language Perception of History Perception of NATO, Russia Stance towards ethnic policy Latvians and Russians:Similarities and Differences

  6. Main Minority Issues: Citizenship • 1991 Restoration of citizenship • 1994 Citizenship Law: requires language test, civics test, timetable from 1996-2003 • 1995 Russians: 765,896 Citizens: 289,106 Non-Citizens: 476,790

  7. What is a “non-citizen”? • not citizen, foreigner or stateless • Law of 1995: permanent resident, protected by Latvia when abroad • Non-citizens passports: visas to EU until 2007, cheaper to CIS • No political rights, but no military service • Almost all socio-economic rights • Almost all (no KGB, demobilized officers, etc.) eligible to naturalize

  8. Citizenship in EU-Latvian Relations • 1993-1997: EU aspirations used by OSCE/CoE • 1997-1998: EC stresses need to eliminate timetable and promote naturalization • 1998: Strong pressure before referendum by EC, troika, individual European leaders • 2000-2001: political criteria fulfilled, but need to increase naturalization (left to OSCE)

  9. Russia Propaganda in int’l orgs. 1992-present: “apartheid” Attempts to prolong OSCE Mission/CoE monitoring Attempts to link to PCA in 2003-2004 Latvia’s Russians Appeal to int’l orgs. & Russia: “Last prisoners of the cold war” Protests, petitions (occasionally) False hope: “EU will not accept country with so many non-citizens” The Activities of Russia and Russians on Citizenship

  10. Main Minority Issues: Language Policy • Soviet legacy: unequal bilingualism, 1m monolingual Russian-speakers, segregated education • 1992-1995: using the “stick” – legal/ administrative pressure, tests, inspections • 1995- : using the “carrot” – language training, outreach, bonuses • Regulating language: can affect minority rights, private life, freedom of expression AND free movement of people, goods, services, establishment of companies

  11. Language in EU-Latvian Relations • 1997-1999: EU (along with OSCE and CoE) “consults” Latvia on draft language law • Methods: legal analyses, political statements, threats, mention in 1999 Opinion • 2000-2002: pressure regarding regulations to limit regulation of private sector

  12. Russia Propaganda: Latvia “outlaws” Russian, “forcibly assimilates” 1999: appeal to EU to reconsider invitation 1999-present: support for Russian teachers, students, schools Latvia’s Russians Appeals to int’l orgs. Protests, petitions (more) Legal challenges in local, int’l courts Slowly learn Latvian (by 2000, 53% know Latvian) The Activities of Russia and Latvia’s Russians on the Language Issue

  13. Main Minority Issues: Education Reform • Point of departure: Latvian and Russian schools • Early 1990s: state higher education in Latvian, introduction of Latvian language courses and some subjects taught in Latvian in Russian schools • 1998: various models of bilingual education • 1998 law: by 2004, “most instruction” in Latvian in state secondary schools • 2002-2004: mass protests

  14. The EU, Russia, and Latvia’s Russians in the Education Reform • Latvia’s Russians: mass protests, hunger strikes, intimidation of “loyal” teachers, children to Brussels and Strasbourg, school boycotts, threats of violence • Russia: money to the opposition, “political technologists,” media incitement, international propaganda • EU: calls for dialogue & maintaining education quality, some money for projects • WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

  15. Latvian Governmental Crisis Management • Domestically: split moderate/militant opposition • Dialogue with moderates, some concessions, funding for culture • Information campaign • Undercutting militant leadership (security measures) • Distracting youth with concert • Internationally: stress need to overcome segregation, ensure equal opportunities(no European standard, diverse European practice)

  16. Lessons learned: • Better to reform policy before EU pressure • Know “EU talk” and practice on minorities • Need to pay special attention to selling EU membership to minorities • Need to be tough and flexible regarding minority activism • Do not underestimate Russia!We were lucky...

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