28th Seminar of Slavic Minorities in Europe to take place in Gorica/Gorizia, Italy

The 28th Seminar of the FUEN Working Group of Slavic Minorities (AGSM) will be held from 20 to 23 November 2025 in Gorica/Gorizia, Italy. The event is organised by FUEN in cooperation with the local Slovenian minority organisations Svet Slovenskih Organizacij (SSO), Slovenska kulturno-gospodarska zveza (SKGZ) and Slovenska Skupnost (SSk), bringing together representatives of Slavic minorities from across Europe.

This year’s seminar will focus on the situation of the Slovenian minority in Italy and the role of cross-border cooperation in strengthening minority rights. Central themes include education, media, economic development and the visibility of minorities in the public sphere. The Slovenian minority’s new umbrella brand SLOvita as well as the joint European Capital of Culture project GO!2025 in Gorizia/Gorica and Nova Gorica will serve as examples of how cultural initiatives can support minority communities on both sides of a border.

Leading political and institutional representatives from Italy and Slovenia will take part in the seminar, among them the mayors of Gorica/Gorizia (Italy) and Nova Gorica (Slovenia), Rodolfo Ziberna and Samo Turel, Vesna Humar, State Secretary for relations between Slovenia and the autochthonous Slovene national community in neighbouring countries, Senator Tatjana Rojc of the Italian Parliament and Mija Lorbek, Director of GO!2025. Their contributions will underline the importance of local, regional and national support for minority policies.

The programme also includes thematic inputs on how international events such as GO!2025 and EUROPEADA 2028 contribute to cultural diversity and strengthen the presence of minority communities in European public life. Representatives of both initiatives, including Neda Rusjan Bric, Artistic Director of GO!2025, and members of the EUROPEADA 2028 team, will share insights into cross-border cultural cooperation.

In addition to the seminar discussions, the participants will engage with local institutions, organisations and cultural actors of the Slovenian community in the region, gaining a deeper understanding of their everyday realities. Cultural activities, including the traditional “Cecilijanka 2025” concert of Slovenian choirs, will complement the professional programme.

Background: The AGSM
Established in 1996, the FUEN Working Group of Slavic Minorities (AGSM) brings together 33 member organisations from across Europe. As a long-standing part of the FUEN network, the AGSM is known for its annual seminar series, hosted each year in a different region with a Slavic minority. In 2017, coordination of the AGSM was transferred to the FUEN Coordination Office, enabling the group to further develop its structures, expand its activities and strengthen cooperation among its members.