PRESS RELEASE

One million signatures for the minorities of Europe: roadmap ready, programme is being worked at, looking for ambassadors Europe-wide FUEN – together with its members the South Tyrolean People’s Party (SVP) and the Alliance of the Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ) and the Youth of European Nationalities (YEN) decided to explore the opportunities offered with the European Citizens’ Initiative, which was created with the Lisbon Treaty. The aim is to increase the influence of circa 100 million people belonging to an autochthonous minority / ethnic group or who speak a regional or minority language (see joint statement).

from left to right: Lorant-György Vinzce, Herbert Dorfmann, Gyula Winkler, Martha Stocker, Jan Diedrichsen, Günther Rautz On 10 October 2012 a meeting took place in the European Parliament in Brussels between the partners (see photo). After the meeting was over, FUEN-vice-president Martha Stocker (South Tyrol) said: “We agreed that we leave the time of statements behind and start with the implementation. The citizens’ initiative offers a unique chance to put the interests of the minorities concretely on the European political agenda and to show the solidarity amongst the European minorities. Independent of the size of the minorities or whether or not a

 

 

minority is endangered, we want to work together to strengthen our rights and the possibilities to influence policies”. She underlined the good collaboration between SVP and the Alliance of the Hungarians from Romania that benefits the progress of the project. Gyula Winkler, member of the European Parliament and the main initiators on behalf of the RMDSZ adds: “There is tremendous potential in the idea of a citizens’ initiative. With the new political tool we may realise things that until now have failed because of a lack of political will within the EU. We are well advised not to act in a hurry. I am therefore happy that we now agreed to a roadmap and that before March next year we will come with further information on the partners involved in the initiative and the substance of the initiative, after we will have held in-depth consultations with experts in EU-law and minority issues as well as with the members of FUEN”, MEP Winkler said. Herbert Dorfmann, member of the European Parliament, adds: “In the European Parliament and within FUEN we work closely together with our partners from Romania. Our minorities have a lot in common and SVP and RMDSZ have many common interests. We will gladly support the introduction of a European Citizens’ Initiative”, said MEP Dorfmann of SVP. Without entering into the details, the participants of the meeting stated that apart from formulating one main question for the citizens’ initiative (which has to be accepted by the European Commission and which has to be within the competences of the Commission according to the European treaties), it will be our task to make an overview of the range of possible demands and opportunities for the minorities within the multilevel system of the European Union. In other words, together with the citizens’ initiative and its campaign a political programme and list of demands is to be presented. Furthermore a citizens’ committee of seven has to be established, which formally will submit the initiative to the European Commission independently of parties and organisations. “It is our idea to bring together a group of outstanding personalities from all over Europe, all with much experience and personal integrity and who have the vision and the personal commitment to support the citizens’ initiative and to give it a boost – so to speak as European ambassadors for solidarity and for the ability to cooperate and campaign of the minorities in Europe”, said Martha Stocker.