33rd AGDM Annual Meeting: "We are not a museum, but a vibrant community"

What challenges do German minorities in Europe and Central Asia face in 2024? How can language and culture be preserved despite economic uncertainties? And what role does the youth play in preserving cultural heritage? These questions were at the heart of the recently concluded annual meeting of the Working Group of German Minorities (AGDM) under the umbrella of the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN).

The annual gathering of the FUEN working group, founded in 1991, was held for the 33rd time, as always in Germany's capital, Berlin. Between October 13 and 16, 2024, more than 40 representatives of German minorities from 17 European and Central Asian countries came together to exchange ideas and discuss key topics for the future as part of an extensive program. Alongside internal consultations, political and technical discussions with members of the German Bundestag and representatives from various federal ministries were also on the agenda.

The meeting was officially opened by Natalie Pawlik, a member of the Bundestag and the Federal Government Commissioner for Matters Related to Ethnic German Resettlers and National Minorities. In her speech, she welcomed the participants to Berlin and emphasized the importance of regular visits to German minorities abroad to better understand their needs and learn firsthand about their commitment on the ground. "The work of German minorities is very important to the federal government and holds great significance," Pawlik said. She also highlighted the importance of sustainable youth support and special assistance for the German minority in Ukraine, which continues to face challenges.

Natalie Pawlik also addressed the difficult budget situation, explaining that despite the federal government's numerous necessary cuts, support for German minorities by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI) would not be reduced. In fact, it was possible to slightly increase financial support for German minorities abroad, which is by no means taken for granted given the current conditions. At the same time, she pointed out the need to consider not only the larger groups of German minorities but also smaller communities, such as those in Slovakia or Ukraine.

AGDM spokesperson and FUEN Vice President Bernard Gaida, who led the entire annual meeting, praised Pawlik's commitment and thanked the federal government for its efforts to prevent cuts in support. He underscored the importance of the Berlin meeting as a significant gathering for the German minorities: "We may have great differences in our history, attire, or songs, but we are united by our community. This feeling strengthens us," Gaida said. He also reminded the attendees of the upcoming 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in 2025 and urged that the tragic history of German minorities, who often faced expulsion and deportation after the war, not be forgotten in the corresponding commemorative events.

Throughout the rest of the meeting, the topics raised at the beginning were further explored. The representatives of the German minorities took the opportunity to exchange views with each other and with high-ranking interlocutors on current challenges. The financial framework and the future of minority funding were repeatedly in focus. Discussions with Dirk Augustin and Mechtild Ermisch from the relevant department at the Federal Foreign Office also covered the planned cuts in the 2025 budget of that ministry. Dirk Augustin highlighted the important role of the German minorities as bridge-builders but also made it clear that, due to global challenges, cuts in future funding were to be expected; therefore, no promises of increased funding for the near future could be made.

The situation of the German-speaking community in Slovenia, which has not yet been recognized as a national minority, was also a recurring theme. The representative of that group expressed hope that German policymakers would actively bring this issue into dialogue with the Slovenian government in the future.

Another significant discussion took place with Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, a member of the Bundestag and Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community. The German minority representatives informed the politician about their organisations' youth work, efforts to preserve cultural identity and language, and their role as bridge-builders in Europe.

The AGDM representatives also engaged with Martin Gerster, a member of the Bundestag and budget rapporteur for the BMI. Here, too, the importance of minority work was emphasized, though Gerster pointed out the financial constraints of the federal budget and the principle of annual budget planning, which complicates long-term commitments.

Meetings with Stefan Seidler, member of the Bundestag and initiator of the Bundestag’s Minority Caucus, Christoph de Vries, head of the Group of Displaced Persons, Resettlers, and German Minorities in the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, as well as Dr. Franca Fülle, Jörn Thießen, and other representatives from the BMI, provided further opportunities to discuss the political and financial framework for minority projects. Evening networking events also allowed the AGDM to connect with partner organisations—the Stiftung Verbundenheit mit den Deutschen im Ausland, the Bund der Vertriebenen, and the Kulturstiftung der Deutschen Vertriebenen.

Alongside these many discussions, internal consultations also took place during the meeting, in which current developments in various AGDM member organisations were reported. The participants also agreed on an appeal to German policymakers. They called for adjusting financial support for German minorities, which is still based on alleviating the aftermath of war, to meet real needs, increasing support for the German language in the home countries of German minorities, and removing geoblocking for media internet content. You can view the full text of the appeal here.

Overall, the 33rd AGDM Annual Meeting underscored that despite financial challenges, the German minorities continue to play a central role as cultural and political bridge-builders between their home countries and Germany as well as in European peace policy. One participant summarised it by saying, "German minorities are not a museum but a vibrant community."

Representatives of German minorities from Romania, Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Hungary participated in the 33rd AGDM Annual Meeting. You can view the photo gallery here.

Following the 33rd AGDM Annual Meeting, the 3rd AGDM Youth Conference was held. The report can be found here (in German language).

The wish of the AGDM member organisations is to hold the 34th AGDM Annual Meeting in Riga, Latvia.