The framework convention for the protection of national minorities and the development of a 'generic' approach to the protection of minority rights in Europe?

This article considers some of the debates that have taken place in recent years about the Framework Convention's potential application to 'new minorities' or 'immigrant' groups. It explores the relevance of the work of Will Kymlicka to these debates as well as the stance adopted by the Framework Convention's Advisory Committee and State responses. The article argues that the protection of 'new' minorities under the Framework Convention should continue to be encouraged by the Advisory Committee and that this is an approach supported not only by Kymlicka's work but also on a more pragmatic level by State experiences to date.