FUEN calls on MEPs to support the re-establishment of the Minority Intergroup

In a letter sent to members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on Friday, 22 November 2024, the Federal Union of European Nationalities asks for their support in re-establishing the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Traditional Minorities, National Communities, and Languages.

The Minority Intergroup is a vital cross-party platform that ensures minorities’ voices are heard in EU policymaking. Since its creation in 1983, it has played a key role in advocating for minority rights across Europe. As the only EU forum dedicated to addressing the challenges of linguistic and autochthonous minorities, the Intergroup is crucial for fostering cultural and linguistic diversity. The Main Resolution of the FUEN’s annual congress 2024 also underscores the importance of this platform and also asks for its re-establishment.

The letter points out that the European Parliament and the Minority Intergroup have a proud history of defending minority rights and raising awareness about the challenges faced by traditional European minorities, and supporting this initiative would demonstrate the Parliament’s continued commitment to protecting minority rights.

Intergroups are unofficial groupings of MEPs who are interested in a particular topic that does not necessarily fall within the scope of the European Parliament's normal work but may be of interest to wider society. Intergroups hold informal discussions and promote exchanges between MEPs and civil society. They are formed in the beginning of a new mandate of the EP. For the establishment of an intergroup in the EP, the support of at least three political groups is needed. Political groups can support the establishment of a limited number of intergroups.

Pictured: Meeting of the Minority Intergroup on 13 February 2020. Credit: Christian CREUTZ© European Union 2020 - Source : EP