Campaign in the Netherlands started: regional government of Fryslân signs the Minority SafePack Initiative in Brussels

With a public signing in Brussels by the regional government of the Province of Fryslân (Netherlands), the campaign of the Minority SafePack Initiative in the Netherlands was launched. The ceremony took place during the European Day of Languages, when throughout Europe people are celebrating the wide diversity of languages that are spoken in Europe.

The signing ceremony was live-streamed to Ljouwert / Leeuwarden, the capital of Fryslân, where an event took place with all the organisations that work on the promotion of the Frisian language and culture, as well as organisations working on other regional languages in the Netherlands, such as Low Saxon, Bildts and Papiamento.

In the presence of five Members of the European Parliament, who had come to the Representation of Fryslân in Brussels, the Commissioner of the King Arno Brok emphasised the importance of the Minority SafePack Initiative for the minority languages in general and for the Frisian language in particular. FUEN Vice President Daniel Alfreider thanked the regional government for supporting the European Citizens’ Initiative for the minorities and for diversity in Europe.

He also said that he looks forward to cooperate with the Frisian government next year, when the Frisian capital Leeuwarden / Ljouwert will be European Capital of Culture 2018, where FUEN will organise its annual congress from 20-24 June 2018.

On behalf of the Intergroup for Minorities in the European Parliament, Chairwoman Kinga Gál expressed her gratitude to the government of Fryslân. The Frisian Member of Parliament Jan Huitema encouraged everyone to sign the initiative, as this conveys a very important signal to the European Union. Iuliu Winkler, Member of Parliament from the Hungarian minority from Romania was very glad that the Frisian government supports the minorities, different than his own home country Romania that went to court to stop the Minority SafePack Initiative. Also MEPs Herbert Dorfmann and Pál Csáky attended the meeting.

According to minister Sietske Poepjes, who has language and culture in her portfolio, it is important that Fryslân shows its solidarity with other minorities and language communities in Europe. “Also in the Netherlands things can be done better, but if you look at other countries in Europe, there some central governments are adamantly opposed to minorities getting a formal position. This must be solved.”

More information:
Report by Omrop Fryslân (in Frisian), with videos (partly in English)

Photos: Omrop Fryslân