Facts
FUEN, with around 100 member organisations in 35 European countries is the largest umbrella organisation of the autochthonous, national minorities / ethnic groups in Europe.
FUEN was founded in Paris in 1949 – in the same year as the Council of Europe.
FUEN adopted the Charter for the autochthonous, national minorities in Europe in 2006. The Charter forms the basis of the actions of FUEN.
FUEN represents the interests of the European minorities on regional, national and in particular on the European level. FUEN is committed to protect and promote the identity, language, culture, rights and own character of the European minorities.
FUEN is the voice of the minorities at the international organisations, notably at the European Union and the Council of Europe and also at the United Nations and the OSCE.
FUEN is also full member of the European Civil Society Platform for Multilingualism established by the European Commission, and Participant in the Fundamental Rights Platform
FUEN has participatory status at the Council of Europe and consultative status at the United Nations.
FUEN, in cooperation with the European Parliament, established the European Dialogue Forum.
FUEN’s main projects are, besides representation of interests, to establish a forum of the European minorities, European linguistic diversity, the FUEN project Solidarity with the Roma and a European citizens’ initiative of the minorities.
FUEN organises the largest congress of the autochthonous minorities in Europe every year – where 150-250 representatives of the European minorities meet each other.
FUEN issues press releases, resolutions, statements and publishes the “Fundamental Rights of the Minorities” from the FUEN Charter.
FUEN organises – in cooperation with its members – many different events. For example the EUROPEADA, the football championship of the European minorities, and the annual meetings of the German, Slavic and Turkic minorities.
