29th Seminar of the Slavic Minorities in Europe to take place in Albania for the first time

The 29th Seminar of the FUEN Working Group of Slavic Minorities (AGSM) will take place from 4 to 7 June in the Albanian capital Tirana. The meeting is organised by FUEN in cooperation with the Macedonian FUEN member organisation “Ilinden”-Tirana. The seminar will bring together representatives of Slavic minorities from across Europe and provide space for exchange, networking and internal consultations.

In 2026, the AGSM is also celebrating its 30th anniversary. The fact that the annual seminar is being held in Albania for the first time during this anniversary year is of particular importance to the working group and its speaker Dr Hartmut Leipner, FUEN Vice-President. This year’s focus will be on the situation of the Macedonian national minority in Albania, as well as on issues of language, education, cultural identity, political participation and institutional recognition.

In addition, the seminar will address the role of national minorities in the Western Balkans on the path towards the European Union. Discussions will focus on the importance of minority rights, the rule of law, cross-border cooperation and social participation for the European perspective of the region. Especially in a diverse region such as the Western Balkans, minorities are not only subjects of protection, but also actors of dialogue and regional understanding.

Representatives from minority organisations, politics, administration, academia and civil society are expected to attend the seminar. In addition to expert contributions and discussions, internal AGSM working sessions are also planned, during which member organisations will report on current developments in their communities and coordinate future activities. Encounters with the host country are also part of the programme: participants will gain insights into Albania’s history, present-day reality and institutional landscape, as well as into traces of minorities in Tirana.

You will be able to follow the seminar on FUEN’s social media channels.

Background: The AGSM in FUEN

The FUEN Working Group of Slavic Minorities (AGSM) was founded in 1996 and brings together Slavic minority organisations from various European countries. As part of the FUEN network, it offers its members a platform for exchange, cooperation and joint representation of interests. The annual seminar series takes place each year in a different region with a Slavic minority and provides insights into the situation of the respective community on the ground.