Reunion at the FUEN Congress in South Tyrol

The FUEN Congress in Bozen/Bulsan/Bolzano was, for many of us, a reunion and at the same time a place of important decisions. For the NKS Working Group, one point is particularly important: Bahne Bahnsen was re-elected as Spokesperson of our Working Group. In addition, he was confirmed as FUEN Vice-President. This ensures continuity and strengthens the representation of our concerns within the Presidium.

With Sterică Fudulea, President of the Aromanian Community in Romania, and Dr Hartmut Leipner, Deputy Chair of Domowina – Federation of Lusatian Sorbs, two further representatives from the NKS context hold the office of FUEN Vice-President. This strong presence increases attention for the issues of minorities without a kin-state.

Growth in the FUEN network

The FUEN Assembly of Delegates in South Tyrol admitted new members and adopted status changes. For our Working Group, several points are particularly relevant: the Heimatverein Seelter Buund and the Roma Party “Pro Europa” (Asociația Partida Romilor Pro-Europa) from Romania were admitted as associate members. The Central Council of Yenish in Germany is now a supporting member of FUEN. In addition, the Radgenossenschaft der Landstrasse was upgraded from associate to full membership. The Friulian Philological Society (Società Filologica Friulana) from Italy was upgraded from supporting to associate membership.

The NKS Working Group in the FUEN Annual Report

The new FUEN Annual Report was also published in time for the FUEN Congress. As always, it includes a detailed section on the activities of the NKS Working Group over the past twelve months and highlights the key activities and developments of the year.

Multilingual Łužica/Lusatia in focus

How can Lusatia be shaped as a sustainable multilingual region? This question was at the centre of the ZARI Conference on 11 November in Smochćicy/Schmochtitz (Germany). Around 130 participants from associations, municipalities, educational institutions and other fields discussed visibility, learning opportunities and structures that can sustain multilingualism in everyday life.

Change at the top of the Friesenrat Section North

There has recently been a change in leadership at the Frasche Rädj/Friesenrat Section North. At the general assembly on 9 October at the Friisk Hüs in Bredstedt, Ingwer Nommensen was elected as the new chair. He succeeds Heinrich Bahnsen, whom the members explicitly thanked for his commitment to the Frisian ethnic group. Ingwer Oldsen, Chair of the North Frisian Association, was elected as deputy chair.

Ladin and North Frisian in comparison

At the end of May, our Working Group met in Val Badia/Gadertal in South Tyrol. Christoph G. Schmidt, Director of the Nordfriisk Instituut, which is dedicated to the research, promotion and preservation of the North Frisian language, history and culture, took part as a guest speaker and highlighted parallels between Ladin and North Frisian. At the same time, he made clear that similar challenges are addressed very differently in the two regions, for example in terms of visibility, schooling and funding.