Gov't passes measures to promote rights to linguistic identity of ethnic Romanians in Ukraine

A series of direct support measures for ethnic Romanians enrolled with schools in Ukraine providing Romanian-language tuition were developed by the Romanian Government on Wednesday, at the proposal of the Ministry for Romanians Abroad (MRP).

Thus, an emergency ordinance amended Law 299/2007 concerning support for Romanians overseas. The new regulations reinforce the legal framework under which ethnic Romanians are extended educational support from Romania.

According to a press statement released by the Government, the measures proposed by MRP regard two dimensions: supporting Romanian-language students in Ukraine and supporting teachers providing Romanian-language tuition.

The educational package includes: scholarships for ethnic Romanians studying at Ukrainian schools providing Romanian-language tuition; additional scholarships for ethnic Romanians studying at Ukrainian schools providing Romanian-language tuition and the organisation, with support from the Romanian Ministry of Education of training courses for teachers of schools in Ukraine providing education in Romanian language.

The number of beneficiaries, the size of the scholarships and the selection mechanisms will be established through consultations between MRP representatives and associations of Romanians in Ukraine and approved under a government decision.

According to the press statement, in order to advance and protect the right to study in the mother tongue, the MRP will continue its bilateral dialogue with Ukraine and the Romanian ethnics of Ukraine, including through a consultation mechanism involving the central and local administrations, Romanian associations in Ukraine, distinguished students and teachers.

"At the same time, the bilateral dialogue...