Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

Article 25 of the Framework Convention binds the member states to submit a report to the Council of Europe containing "full information on the legislative and other measures taken to give effect to the principles set out in this framework Convention" (Council of Europe, 1994, 7).

[5] The Advisory Committee evaluates state adherence to the Framework Convention via "detailed country-specific opinions adopted following a monitoring procedure.

The convention does not define "national minority" and several countries set their own definition of the term when they ratified the treaty.

For example, the United Kingdom ratified the convention on the understanding that it would be applied with reference to "racial groups" within the meaning of Section 3(1) of the Race Relations Act 1976.

[8] In April 2014, it was announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, that the UK Government would recognise the Cornish as a national minority under the FCNM.

Many authors agree with this arguing that it needs to be implemented in 'good faith' with the political will to support commitment to minority rights.