CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS AND LIGUISTIC DIVERSITY AS A RIGHT LEGITIMISED BY EUROPEAN UNION NORMATIVE AND JURISPRUDENTIAL FRAMEWORK

The article aims to analyse the right of cultural, religious and linguistic diversity, regulated by one of the most recent and original legal instrument in the aria of human rights: Charter of fundamental rights, which is part of Lisbon Treaty. Firstly, it is necessary to be done several conceptual delimitations, such as "national identity", "unity in diversity" and "European identity". Taking into consideration the multitude of legal sources existing in European Union, it is important to be accomplished their characterization and prioritization. As well, the domain of application of the right is outlined in order to facilitate the understanding of its content. The demarcation of other rights of the Charter satisfies the role of eliminating any confusion related to their distinct significance. The specification of the principles which describe the totality of essential features of the right, also, appears appropriate. Finally, it is underlined that, by the side of other international and national regulations, European Union normative framework and case law of the Court of Justice of European Union offer strong guarantees for the respect and the support of European cultural or regional minorities.