The study of the Venice Commission on the Electoral Law and National Minorities, includes important general conclusions which provide a solid starting ground for the future efforts to develop the discussion on affirmative action in the field of electoral rules for national minorities' participation in the decision making. According to this conclusion the participation of members of national minorities through elected office is more a result of the implementation and adaptation of the general rules of electoral law than of the application of rules peculiar to the minorities. The unabridged text of the conclusions of this study is appended.