Positive news for the Minority SafePack Initiative (MSPI): The coalition agreement presented yesterday by the new government of SPD, FDP and the Greens in Germany contains passages on minority protection as well as a clear commitment to the MSPI. Specifically, it states:<\/p>\n
„The national minorities – the Danish minority, the Frisian ethnic group, the German Sinti and Roma as well as the Sorbian people – are a self-evident part of our diverse society. The same applies to the cultural heritage of the expellees, ethnic German repatriates and late repatriates.” (S. 118)<\/p>\n
„We proactively support the Minority SafePack initiative and are implementing it in Germany. We are expanding projects for the preservation and development of minorities, their languages and culture.” (S. 122)<\/p>\n
As an umbrella organisation and lobby group for Europe’s autochthonous and national minorities, FUEN welcomes this gratifyingly explicit commitment to minorities, linguistic diversity and the planned expansion of the Federal Republic’s involvement. „It is very important for the protection of minorities in Europe that the four recognised national minorities are explicitly mentioned in the treaty,” says FUEN President Lor\u00e1nt Vincze.<\/p>\n