Speaking at a press conference marking the 20th anniversary of the law, Siemoniak outlined its role in shaping Poland’s relationship with minority groups over the past two decades.
He noted that soon after its adoption, Poland established the Joint Commission of the Government and National and Ethnic Minorities, a body tasked with advising on minority issues.
The law was introduced shortly after Poland joined the European Union in 2004 and aligns with European democratic and legal standards on minority rights, Siemoniak said.
It has provided key protections, including the right to use minority languages in public offices and the installation of bilingual signs in areas with significant minority populations.
Siemoniak told reporters that the government wants to ensure that all issues affecting minorities are addressed legally and transparently.
He pointed to the reinstatement of funding for German minority language education as one of the new government’s early decisions in this area.
Discussions on revising the law will begin soon within the joint commission, he added.
Deputy Interior Minister Tomasz Szymański said that the joint commission serves as both an advisory body and a platform for discussions between minority representatives and public officials.
He criticized the previous eight years of right-wing coalition rule as a period of disputes and disregard for minority concerns, saying the new government aims to rebuild cooperation.
To address current challenges, the commission recently decided to establish a working group to assess what changes are needed to promote minority identity and multiculturalism.
Minority groups have also called for the creation of a National and Ethnic Minorities Council to further strengthen their voice in policymaking.
During the press conference, Grzegorz Kuprianowicz, co-chairman of the joint commission, described the law’s adoption as a historic milestone for minority rights in Poland.
He said that it was one of the longest-debated laws in post-communist Poland and had significant implications.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP, IAR