ABSTRACT
The enlargement of the European Union (EU) has led to a new space within Europe where borders are more porous and sovereignty less rigid. Within the EU, nations that straddle frontiers are less divided than in the past. But does this change the rules when it comes to the protection of persons belonging to national minorities? As borders within the EU become less relevant, can so-called ‘kin-states’ play a more active role in the support of so-called ‘kin’ who live in neighbouring states? The debate over the Act on Hungarians Living in Neighbouring Countries (also known as the ‘Status’ or ‘Preference’ Law), which was adopted in June 2001, is a fascinating case study of how a transforming Europe is trying to come to terms with kin-states, minorities, borders and sovereignty.
