EU Must End Double Standards On Minority Protection: UN ExpertBRUSSELS (28 January 2026) – The European Union must find bolder, more effective ways to protect minority rights within its own borders, a UN expert said today. “The European Union is instrumental in advocating for minority rights outside its borders, especially through its enlargement policy, but lacks the tools and motivation to effectively address minority issues within the bloc. This gap must be closed to guarantee better protection of minorities within the EU,” said Nicolas Levrat, the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues, in a statement at the end of his visit to the EU. “The EU’s workforce remains far from representative of the diversity found within the EU,” Levrat said. Nicolas Levrat is the Special Rapporteur on minority issues.