This publication discusses the main standards and mechanisms created by the Council of Europe and other international organisations to protect the rights of minorities in Europe, including key legal instruments such as the European Convention on Human Rights, the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, and the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. It reviews the monitoring activities in various Council of Europe member and non-member states, both prior to their accession and in their post-accession phase. The publication also includes a detailed examination of the case of the Roma/Gypsies, a specific minority without a 'kin state'.
The Pan-European Ecological Network aims to secure the favourable conservation status of the ecosystems, habitats, species and landscapes of importance across Europe. This report reviews the provisions of existing international instruments and proposes priority co-operation action which could support both the development of the network and the implementation of these instruments.
The Council of Europe plays a pivotal role in the promotion and protection of human rights in Europe, yet its work is often little understood. This volume provides a comprehensive analysis of the work of the Council of Europe and the legal framework within which it operates.
This book is the result of research into the considerable impacts the signing of the Schengen Agreement has had on the border regions of the signatory, in particular the Central European internal borders. The analysis provides an in-depth look at European integration, development and perception at the state level as well as in the selected border regions of Central Europe. The book discusses results from population questionnaires in this region, and presents the most important features of development of border regions within Central European internal borders/borderlands after the Schengen Agreement. This book is suitable for students and researchers dealing with the borderlands, but also outlines sufficient information to be of interest to regional planners and policy makers.