Bonn-Copenhagen declarations

The declarations consist of two documents: • Negotiations of the German-Danish paper ended 28 March 1955. In this document both delegations grant schools of the other country's minority the right to conduct examinations. In addition, the German delegation announced that the Danish minority would be exempted from the 5% electoral threshold in elections to the Landtag of Schleswig-Holstein. • The text of the actual declarations were published on 29 March 1955 and affirmed by the German and Danish Parliaments. == Critique ==

The Bonn-Copenhagen model is often cited as an example to follow when it comes to resolving conflicts regarding ethnic minorities. However, the model is primarily relevant for reciprocal minorities living on either side of a national border. The model is less well suited to deal with border disputes and conflicts relating to sovereignty over territory. Both countries are furthermore required to be democratic and cooperative. Today the declarations are by themselves considered inadequate and superseded by other legal instruments, such as the more comprehensive Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities by the Council of Europe. == References ==