Schleswig-Holstein State Government presents 2024 Minority Report

On 27 March, the 2024 Minority Report of the Schleswig-Holstein State Government was presented and debated in the state parliament in Kiel. The State Government of Schleswig-Holstein submits a report on its minority and ethnic group policy to the state parliament once per legislative period. The current report for the 20th legislative period was adopted by the cabinet in December 2024 and submitted to parliament as Parliamentary Document 20/2798.

The report was presented by the Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein, Daniel Günther. In his speech, he emphasised the importance of cultural diversity in Schleswig-Holstein, where the Danish minority, the Frisian ethnic group, and the minority of German Sinti and Roma live as part of society. “We are proud of this cultural diversity and of the fact that people in our state live together naturally – Germans, Danes, Frisians, Sinti and Roma”, Günther stated. The report, he said, is “a strong signal that we are sending from Schleswig-Holstein in turbulent times”.

A central theme of the report – alongside educational efforts and the protection of the rights of autochthonous minorities – is minority policy at the European level, an area in which Schleswig-Holstein plays an active role. The state government supports the demand made by the Conference on the Future of Europe to establish a dedicated institution to promote linguistic diversity at the European level. In addition, the Minority SafePack Initiative is acknowledged as an important signal of civil society engagement for minority rights.

According to the report, Schleswig-Holstein sees itself as a pioneer of constructive European minority policy – not least due to the presence of international actors such as the FUEN, headquartered in Flensburg. The state government aims to further increase the visibility of these issues at the European level and to actively participate in relevant debates and forums.

Against this backdrop, Minister-President Günther also addressed international developments in his speech. “Minorities are increasingly subjected to hostility around the world. Populists stir up resentment against them, spread lies, and seek to score political points at their expense. Autocrats stigmatize and discriminate against them unscrupulously if they do not conform to their vision of society”, he said. In light of these developments, it is essential to highlight examples that convey a different image – examples that stand for respectful coexistence between the majority population and minorities, and that reflect people's desire to live together peacefully. “In these times, it is important for us to make Schleswig-Holstein’s successful minority policy visible internationally”, said the Minister-President.

He also thanked his Commissioner for Minorities, Johannes Callsen, for his work and dedication: “Through countless meetings, conversations, and letters, you have advocated for the interests of minorities – even at the European level. Many thanks for that, on behalf of the entire state government.”

Christian Dirschauer, parliamentary group chairman of the South Schleswig Voters’ Association (SSW) – the party of the Danish minority in the Schleswig region and of the national Frisians in North Frisia – spoke on behalf of his group. He pointed to the positive developments in Schleswig-Holstein's minority policy, but also emphasized the need for further action, particularly with regard to the visibility of minority languages in public broadcasting and the enshrinement of minority rights in the German Basic Law. “Especially in politically turbulent times, it is extremely important that minorities and their rights rest on a solid constitutional foundation—regardless of who is in power”, said Dirschauer.

He also criticized the lack of progress in the European Union's minority policy. In particular, he noted that nothing is currently happening with regard to the Minority SafePack Initiative. “There is no Commissioner for Minorities, no institution for regional and minority languages, and the regional EU funds that are so important for minorities are to be merged with other funding instruments”, Dirschauer continued. These are troubling developments, he said, and the SSW calls on the state government to advocate at both federal and European levels for a rethinking of European minority policy.

FUEN Vice President Bahne Bahnsen attended the debate on behalf of the organisation and followed the proceedings from the parliamentary visitors’ gallery, together with representatives of the recognized minorities and border associations. On the sidelines of the plenary session, he commented on the significance of the Minority Report for European minority policy: “The report shows that Schleswig-Holstein takes responsibility for its minorities – a model that should inspire others across Europe.”

In light of the challenges ahead – especially in connection with European minority policy – Bahnsen emphasised that clear political signals and reliable structures at EU level are needed to sustainably protect the rights of minorities in Europe. “National efforts – like those here in Schleswig-Holstein – must not be undermined by a lack of European support”, Bahnsen said. Many countries in Europe continue to largely ignore minority policy, he criticized. “What we need is determined political action to finally put an end to the persistent ignorance toward minorities.”

Background: The Minority Report of the Schleswig-Holstein State Government
The Minority Report is published by the Schleswig-Holstein State Government once per legislative period and provides a comprehensive overview of minority and ethnic group policy in Germany’s northernmost federal state. It documents developments at state, federal and EU level, as well as the situation of the four recognized minorities and ethnic groups in Schleswig-Holstein.

You can view the 2024 Minority Report HERE (in German).

Photo: Group photo with Minister-President Daniel Günther, Minority Commissioner Johannes Callsen, and representatives of minority organisations, institutions, and border associations. The photo was taken on 27 March 2025 in the state parliament, prior to the debate on the State Government’s report “Minority and Ethnic Group Policy in the 20th Legislative Period (2022–2027) – Minority Report 2024” (Parliamentary Document 20/2798).

The people pictured, from left to right:

• Daniel Günther, Minister-President of the State of Schleswig-Holstein
• Vello Pettai, Director of the ECMI
• Harro Hallmann, Head of Communications at the BDN
• Stefan Ploog, Managing Board Member of the German Border Association
• Jens Stoltenberg, Chair of the SHHB
• Matthäus Weiß, Chair of the Association of German Sinti and Roma e. V.
• Hinrich Jürgensen, Chair of the BDN
• Uwe Jessen, Chair of the Minority Competence Network e. V.
• Kelly Laubinger, Executive Director of the Sinti Union Schleswig-Holstein e. V.
• Michaela Oesser, Executive Director of ADS – Border Peace Association
• Thomas Jepsen, Chair of ADS – Border Peace Association e. V.
• Robert Kleih, Director of the Ferring Foundation in Alkersum on Föhr
• Heinrich Bahnsen, Friesenrat e. V., Northern Section
• Marlo Thormann, Chair of the Sinti Union Schleswig-Holstein e. V.
• Bahne Bahnsen, Vice-President of the FUEN
• Ingwer Nommensen, Deputy Chair of Friesenrat e. V., Northern Section
• Jens A. Christiansen, Secretary General of the SSF
• Johannes Callsen, Minority Commissioner to the Minister-President

Photo credit: Staatskanzlei des Landes Schleswig Holstein/State Chancellery of the State of Schleswig-Holstein