Federal Union of European Nationalities
Acronym: FUEN
General Information
Identification Code: 331310413543-50
Website: [object Object]
Entity Form: association (based on German law)
Registration Category: Non-governmental organisations, platforms and networks and similar
Registration Date: 5/15/2014
Last Update: 3/13/2024
EP Accredited Number: 0
Mission & Interests
Goals: The Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) is a European umbrella organisation, founded in 1949, more than 100 member organisations in 36 countries, 21 of which are EU Member States. The members represent the autochthonous, national minorities and the more than 60 regional and minority languages in Europe. According to its Statutes, the aim of FUEN is to preserve and promote the identity, language and culture of the minorities, as a contribution to linguistic and cultural diversity, for the preservation of inalienable values and the intellectual heritage of Europe.
As a civil society organisation and umbrella organisation, FUEN is encouraging democratic involvement of citizens, participation in policy-making processes and promoting civic engagement on the EU level.
FUEN acts as a platform for information and dialogue and as an intermediary facilitating the dissemination and exchange of both European policies and concrete contributions to policy-making.
Interests Represented: Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members
Interests:
- Borders and security
- Budget
- Culture and media
- Education and training
- Enlargement
- European neighbourhood policy
- External relations
- Foreign affairs and security policy
- Institutional affairs
- International co-operation and development
- Justice and fundamental rights
- Regional policy
- Sport
- Youth
Levels of Interest:
- european
- sub-national
- national
Activities
Main EU Legislative Proposals: FUEN represents the interests of the European minorities on regional, national and European level. FUEN works together with the European Union, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the United Nations and other stakeholders within the field of the European minorities. FUEN holds consultative status at the UN and participatory status at the CoE.
Within the framework of the EU, FUEN is a full member of the Civil Society Platform for Multilingualism at the European Commission, a partner of the European Parliament Intergroup on Traditional Minorities and it has close contacts with the Committee of the Regions. FUEN is also a participant organisation of the Fundamental Rights Platform. FUEN’s European Dialogue Forum is responsible for the political dialogue with the EU institutions, particularly with the EP.
FUEN is the main organisation behind the Minority SafePack Initiative. The MSPI is a European citizens’ initiative that proposes to change European policy in regard to minority protection and the promotion of regional and minority languages. By creating a coalition throughout Europe we try to build up solidarity among the various communities. Our aim was to collect enough signatures to ensure that EU institutions will have to deal more profoundly with this subject, in dialogue with the European minorities. The MSPI can be described as the most significant action for the protection of national minorities in recent decades: In an unprecedented solidarity action, from April 2017 to April 2018, 1,123,422 signatures were collected for diversity in Europe and validated by the competent national authorities. The signatures were officially submitted to the EC on 10.1.2020. FUEN commissioned a team of legal experts to prepare a package of legislative proposals, which were submitted to the EC early February 2020. The drafts on language, education and culture, including a centre for linguistic diversity, regional policy, equality and statelessness, and audiovisual media content, are the basis for further lobbying and for the hearing in the EP. The MSPI legislative proposals were presented to the EC on 5.2.2020. The next milestone was the hearing on 15.10.2020 in the EP, which was successful as the majority of MEPs expressed their support for MSPI's demands. On 17.12.2020, a large majority in the EP with 543 votes out of 694 voted in favour of adopting the resolution. This makes the MSPI the first ECI on the basis of which a plenary debate was convened and a resolution adopted by the EP. On 15.1.2021, the EC announced its Communication with its policy and legal conclusions on the MSPI and announced that it will not propose any concrete legislative proposals on the MSPI demands. On 24.3.2021 the MSPI Citizens’ Committee filed at the General Court of the European Union a request for the annulment of the EC’s decision on the initiative. On 9.11.2022 the General Court of the EU delivered the judgment in the case of the Minority SafePack Initiative vs the European Commission, stating that the EC proceeded correctly in refusing to propose legal acts based on the MSPI. The judgment was appealed on 23.1.2023. In addition, lobbying and public relations work for this initiative continue through meetings with decision-makers. The aim is to continue to raise the concerns of national minorities in the EU.
FUEN was involved in the Conference on the Future of Europe, organising a conference in March 2021 in Flensburg, Germany collaborating with other organisations involved in the field of minority protection and providing legislative proposals on the COFOE platform.
Noteworthy is FUEN's involvement in the European Language Equality project of the ECSPM that aims to produce language reports on language technologies and digital support for languages in Europe. The EC will use these language reports for policy-making to decide on financial support. FUEN supports the project in communicating with the smaller language communities in Europe.
Communication Activities: Every year FUEN organizes the largest meeting of autochthonous minorities in Europe, the FUEN Congress. The last congresses were organised in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands (2018), Bratislava, Slovakia (2019), Trieste, Italy (2021), Berlin, Germany (2022), Pécs, Hungary (2023). In 2020 the Assembly of Delegates was held online.
In addition, FUEN coordinates six working groups. The working groups consist either of member organizations of a particular language group or of representatives of FUEN members working on a particular topic or area of interest. Currently, the following working groups operate under the umbrella of FUEN: the German Working Group (AGDM), the Turkish Working Group (TAG), the Slavic Working Group (AGSM), the Working Group of Hungarian Communities (MKM), the Education Working Group and the Non-Kinstate Working Group.
The EUROPEADA, organised by FUEN is a football tournament between European minorities. The focus is on the encounter, the exchange of minorities and the public promotion. Its next edition in 2024 will be hosted by the minorities in the German-Danish border region.
The Minority Monitor is an online tool that can be used by minorities if they encounter a breach of their minority rights, face discrimination, or if they want to share a case of good practices with each other. The cases are analysed by experts in the field of minority protection, and possible solutions to the problems are also presented on the platform.
The Forum of the Minority Regions brings together European minority regions and is a venue for cooperation. The networks that emerge from the meetings enhance the political weight of the individual regions. Speaking with one voice strengthens their position when influencing the policies of the European Union. The forum is also the setting for exchanging and discussing different strategies in defending and promoting minority rights.
The Do you speak Corona survey from 2020 analysed to what extent national and regional authorities communicated about the pandemic in minority languages. The online questionnaire focused on the availability of information related to COVID-19 in general, healthcare information related to the outbreak, the existence of an emergency hotline operated in the minority language and the availability of online education in the mother tongue.
The aim of the European Dialogue Forum (EDF) is to assist FUEN in representing the interests of Europe’s autochthonous, traditional, national, and linguistic minorities in Europe. The EDF serves as a platform within FUEN to ensure that special attention is devoted to advocating the interests of our Member Organisations towards European institutions focusing on minority rights.
The project Women of Minorities aims to bring about a change towards better representation of women in minority organisations. Its primary goal is to provide tailored solutions to foster the resilience of women from diverse backgrounds, enabling them to pursue their rights to equality and non-discrimination.
In 2023 FUEN started the Minorities in the Western Balkans conference, which aims to discuss the similarities and differences between the minority protection frameworks of the states in the region and to facilitate dialogue with the decision-makers and stakeholders.
In 2024 FUEN organised its first large-scale Expert Conference for researchers and academia in Brussels. 40 experts in the field of minority protection came together to analyse the current state of affairs and to discuss possible new steps towards better protection and promotion of minorities.
Minority Talks with FUEN is a platform in which we present short films, documentaries and contributions that deal with various aspects of the topic of autochthonous and national minorities as well as language communities in Europe. Each film is followed by a discussion, in which the topic of the film is taken up and discussed in the context of the current situation of the minority in question
Inter-institutional or Unofficial Groupings: Unofficial groupings,Traditional minorities, national communities and languages
Head Office
Address: Schiffbrücke, 42
Post Code: 24939
City: Flensburg
Country: GERMANY
Phone: [object Object]
EU Office
Address: Schiffbrücke, 42
Post Code: 24939
City: Flensburg
Country: GERMANY
Phone: [object Object]
Financial Data
New Organisation: false
Closed Year: [object Object]
Current Year: [object Object]
Membership Information
Members10 Percent: 0
Members25 Percent: 17
Members50 Percent: 4
Members75 Percent: 6
Members: 31
Members F T E: 14.75
Info Members: The number of persons engaged in activities falling under the scope of the Transparency Register include the staff of FUEN, the (elected and voluntary) Presidium of FUEN and the (elected and voluntary) Members of the European Dialogue Forum.
Structure
Structure Type: Structure
Is Member Of: (A) Hrvatsko kulturno društvo u Gradišću HKD(3500),
(A) Narodni Svet Koroških Slovencev NSKS(5000),
(A) Skupnost koroških Slovencev in Slovenk SKS(1300),
(A) Hrvatski centar(1),
(AL) Македонско Друштво "Илинден"/Macedonian Association “Ilinden"(1),
(AL) Zajednica Crnogoraca u Albaniji “ZCGA” - Elbasan(1),
(AZ) Meshet Turkleri Cemiyeti azerbayanda VATAN(1),
(BA) Otaharin - Citizen's Association for the promotion of education of Roma,
(B) ProDG: Pro Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft(537),
(BG) Tsentru ti limba shi cultura armaneasca(1500),
(BG) European Institute Pomak,
(CH) Lia Rumantscha(1),
(CH) Radgenossenschaft der Landstraße
(CH) Pro Grigioni Italiano(1),
(CH) Schäft qwant(1400),
(CZ) Kongres Polakow w Republice Czeskije(1),
(CZ) Landesversammlung der Deutschen in Böhmen, Mähren und Schlesien(1),
(D) Domowina – Bund der Lausitzer Sorben(7000),
(D) ABTTF - Avrupa Batı Trakya Türk Federasyonu(6000),
(D) Friisk Foriining(600),
(D) Sydslesvigsk Forening e. V.(13320),
(D) Zentralrat Deutscher Sinti und Roma(1),
(D) Związek Polaków w Niemczech(1),
(D) EBLUL Deutschland - Komitee für Regional- und Minderheitensprachen(1),
(D) Frasche Rädj seksjoon nord(1),
(DK) Bund Deutscher Nordschleswiger BDN(4500),
(DK) Grænseforeningen,
(EE) Eestimaa Rahvuste Ühendus(1),
(EE) Verein der Deutschen Estlands(122),
(EE) Союз Славянских просветительных и благотворительных обществ(1),
(EE) Verein der Belarussen in Estland(1),
(EE) NGO Russian School of Estonia,
(ES) Plataforma per la Llengua,
(F) Institut Culturel de Bretagne,
(F) Elsaß-Lothringischer Volksbund(1),
(F) Strollad Breizh / Parti Breton(450),
(F) Association Occitana de Fótbol (AOF)(1),
(F) Comité d´Action Régionale de Bretagne(1),
(F) Unser Land,
(GE) Assoziation der Deutschen "Einung"(2000),
(GE) Public Movement Multinational Georgia(1),
(GR) Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association(780),
(GR) Ecumenical Federation of Constantinopolitans(1),
(GR) Виножито: ПОЛИТИЧКА ПАРТИЈА НА МАКЕДОНСКОТО МАЛЦИНСТВО ВО ГРЦИЈА(1),
(GR) Dostluk Eşitlik Barış Partisi (DEBPartisi)(5000),
(GR) Panhellenic Pomak Association,
(GR) Македонско Движење за Унапредување на Мајчиниот Јазик ‘Крсте Мисирков’,
(H) Celoštátna slovenská samospráva v Maďarsku(1),
(H) Landesselbstverwaltung der Ungarndeutschen LdU(1),
(H) Autoguvernarea pe Țară a Românilor din Ungaria (AȚRU),
(H) Вседержавноє Русинськоє Самосправованя
(HR) Rada české národnostní menšiny Bjelovarsko-bilogorského županství(1),
(HR) Deutsche Gemeinschaft Landsmannschaft der Donauschwaben(1100)
(HR) Српскo нaрoднo виjeћe / Serb National Council in Croatia(1),
(HR) Horvatorszagi Magyarok Demokratikus Közössege(2500),
(I) Südtiroler Volkspartei SVP(50000),
(I) Slovenska Skupnost(1),
(I) Istituto di Studi sull’Amministrazione Locale (ISAL(1),
(I) Union Generela di Ladins dla Dolomites(1),
(I) Fondazione "Agostina Piccoli"(1)
(I) Confederation of Slovene Organisations(1),
(I) Slovenska kulturnogospodarska zveza SKGZ,
(I) Società Filologica Friulana
(IE) Údarás na Gaeltachta,
(KS) Volksrat der Deutschen Kyrgizstans(11000),
(KZ) Gesellschaftliche Stiftung "Wiedergeburt"(1),
(LV) Verband der Deutschen in Lettland(1),
(MD) Deutsches Haus Hoffnung(800),
(MK) Unia ti cultura-a Armanjlor dit Machidunii(1),
(MK) Roma Community Center “DROM”,
(MK) Roma Democratic Development Association SONCE,
(MK) Zdruzenie za Pravata na Romite - Stip,
(NL) Ried fan de Fryske Beweging(12500),
(PL) Verband der Deutschen Sozial-Kulturellen Gesellschaften in Polen(1),
(PL) Об'єднання лемків / Association of Lemkos in Poland(1),
(PL) Masurische Gesellschaft e.V. (1),
(PL) Kaszëbskò Pòmòrsczé Zrzeszenié(5000),
(RO) FARA ARMÂNEASCÂ dit ROMÂNIA(7500),
(RO) Demokratisches Forum der Deutschen DFDR(1),
(RO) Romániai Magyar Demokrata Szövetség RMDSZ(1),
(RO) Magyar Polgári Párt / Hungarian Civic Party(1),
(RO) Democratic Union of Slovaks and Czechs in Romania(1),
(RO) Tatar Democratic Union (1),
(RS) Demokratski Savez Hrvata u Vojvodini(1),
(RS) Deutscher Volksverband(1),
(RS) Serbian Aromanian Association "Lunjina"(1)
(RS) Deutscher Humanitärer Verein "St. Gerhard"
(RS) Vajdasági Magyar Szövetség(1),
(RS) Humanitarian Centre Rom Obrenovac(1),
(RUS) Internationaler Verband der deutschen Kultur IVDK(1),
(RUS) Межрегиональная общественная организация «Барс Эль»(1),
(RUS) Milletlerarasi Meshet Turkleri Cemiyeti »Vatan«(1),
(RUS) МСГОО “Понтос” International Union of Greek Societies of CIS(1),
(RUS) Федеральная лезгинская национально-культурная автономия (FLCNA)(1),
(RUS) NGO "Qumuqlar"
(S) Stiftelsen Skånsk Framtid(1),
(SK) Karpatendeutscher Verein KDV(4500),
(SK) Český spolek na Slovensku(1),
(SK) Szövetség-Aliancia(12000),
(SLO) Verband der Kulturvereine der deutschsprachigen Volksgruppe in Slowenien(1),
(SLO) Muravidéki Magyar Önkormányzati Nemzeti Közösség/Pomurska madžarska samoupravna narodna skupnnost(1),
(SLO) Unione Italiana (1),
(TR) Rodos, İstanköy ve Onikiada Türkleri Kültür ve Dayanışma Derneği(415),
(UA) Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People(1),
(UA) Society of the Carpatho-Rusyns(1),
(UA) Всеукраинская Aссоциации крымских караимов “Крымкарайлар”(1),
(UA) Rat der Deutschen der Ukraine(1),
(UA) Kárpátaljai Magyar Kulturális Szövetség KMKSZ(39000),
(UA) All Ukrainian National Cultural Association of the Moldovans(10000),
(UA) Федерація грецьких товариств України / Federation of Greek Societies of Ukraine(1),
(UA) Асамблея Національностей України / Assembly of Nationalities of Ukraine (1),
(UZB) Kulturzentrum der Deutschen in Usbekistan(1)
(XK) Kosovo Youth Union Association(1)
Youth of European Nationalities
Organisation Members: -Member of CoNGO (Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the UN) http://ngocongo.org/member-organizations
-Participatory Status with the Council of Europe
-Member of the ECSPM (https://ecspm.org/organisational-structure/members/)
-Member of "Minderheiten-Kompetenz-Netzwerk e. V." ( https://www.minority-network.org/mitglieder)