The Intergovernmental Joint Committee for the Protection of the National Minorities Between the Republic of Croatia and Hungary as the Best Practice for Successful Bilateral Cooperation in the Field of the Mutual Protection of National Minorities

In this paper, bilateral cooperation of the Republic of Croatia in the field of the protection of the rights of national minorities with the states where the Croatian national minority live, and especially work and activities of the Intergovernmental Joint Committee (IJC) for the protection of the national minorities between the Republic of Croatia and Hungary, are described and analysed. Concluded in 1995 in Osijek and ratified by both states, this IJC was established to monitor the implementation of The Agreement between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Hungary for the protection of the Hungarian minority in the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian minority in the Republic of Hungary. The Republic of Croatia also has three other IJCs: with the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia, and Montenegro. Members appointed by the two governments participate in the sessions of the IJCs. Participating in the IJC between the Republic of Croatia and Hungary are representatives of the Croatian national minority in Hungary, the Hungarian national minority in Croatia, and representatives of governmental bodies of the Republic of Croatia and Hungary responsible for areas of particular interest to the national minorities. Sessions of the IJC are held alternately in the two states. Sixteen sessions of this IJC have been held to date. The first was held in 1995 in Zagreb, and the sixteenth in Budapest in 2022. After the sessions, minutes are signed and delivered to the governments of both states. Minutes contain recommendations for the undertaking of concrete activities to improve the status, position and rights of national minorities. Prominent examples of successfully realised projects based on these recommendations are the Hungarian Media Centre in Bilje, Croatia, and the Croatian Theatre in Pécs, Hungary. Successful implementation of the recommendations means raising the level of minority rights and contributions to the overall development of both states – the IJC for the protection of national minorities is an important institutional framework and a good mechanism that demonstrates that the two national minorities are undoubtedly an excellent bridge connecting these two friendly and neighbouring states: the Republic of Croatia and Hungary.