The 69th annual congress of the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) was held on 23–26 October 2025 in Bozen/Bulsan/Bolzano, South Tyrol, Italy. The congress was hosted by the South Tyrolean People’s Party (SVP), representing the German and Ladin minorities in Italy.
Representatives of FUEN’s Turkish Minorities/Communities Working Group (TAG) attended, including the European Federation of Western Thrace Turks (ABTTF) for Western Thrace Turks, the Rhodes, Kos and Dodecanese Turks Cultural and Solidarity Association (ROİSDER) for Rhodes and Kos Turks, the International Ahıska Turks Society “VATAN” for Ahıska Turks, the Kosovo Youth Union Association (KGBD) led by President Cengiz Kovaç for Kosovo Turks, and the Crimean Tatar National Assembly (KTMM) for Crimean Tatars.
Minority Issues and Solutions Discussed in Europe
At the congress, which was attended by representatives of indigenous national minorities, peoples, and language groups from 30 European countries, panel sessions addressed cross-border access challenges to audiovisual media in minority languages and the work carried out within the framework of FUEN’s Minority Safeguard Package (MSPI). The host German and Ladin minorities were also introduced through cultural performances.
TAG Members Met in a Consultation Meeting
On the second day of the congress, the FUEN TAG consultation meeting took place. TAG Spokesperson Halit Habip Oğlu provided information on the work carried out since the 11th TAG Annual Meeting held on 29 May–1 June 2025. The meeting evaluated recent developments in TAG member Turkish minorities and communities, and the program and organization of the 12th TAG Annual Meeting in 2026 were discussed.
Resolutions Approved
In his presentation at the FUEN Delegates Assembly, TAG Spokesperson Halit Habip Oğlu informed delegates about TAG’s activities since the previous annual congress. The Delegates Assembly unanimously approved the resolutions submitted by TAG members representing Western Thrace Turks, Rhodes, Kos and Dodecanese Turks, Ahıska Turks, and Crimean Tatars.
Nabi İbrahimcik Re-elected as FUEN Vice President
Elections were held for the FUEN Presidency and Vice Presidency. Olivia Schubert, a member of the German minority in Hungary, was elected as the new FUEN President, while Nabi İbrahimcik from the Western Thrace Turks, a TAG member, was re-elected as FUEN Vice President for the next three years.
Four New Minority Organizations Joined FUEN
As a result of the vote at the Delegates Assembly, the organizations representing Ukrainians in Hungary, the Roma minority in Romania, and the Sater Frisians in Germany were accepted as full members of FUEN, while the Yenish organization in Germany was accepted as an associate member.
Upcoming Congresses
According to the Assembly’s decision, the 70th FUEN Congress in 2026 will be hosted by the Swedish minority in Finland in Helsinki, and the 71st FUEN Congress in 2027 will be hosted by the Italian minority in Slovenia in the Istria region.
