The FUEN European Minority Regions Forum took place in Novi Sad, Serbia, in the
Autonomous Region of Vojvodina from June 26-28, 2025. Human Rights Experts Dr. Pervin
Hayrullah and Kerem Abdurahimoglu represented WTMUGA at the forum. The forum, titled
“TALKING ABOUT MONEY – The Added Value of Minority Communities in Cross-Border
Regions,” began on Friday, June 26, with opening remarks at the Banovina Palace, home to
the Vojvodina Autonomous Regional Assembly. Members of the European Parliament and
numerous national and local officials attended the forum. The first day’s sessions focused on
the potential for cross-border cooperation of minorities living in border regions, their added
value to the regional economy, and the Vojvodina region as a positive example. The first day
of the forum concluded with a visit by participants to the Subotica/Szabadka border region.
On the second day of the forum, the first discussion was on the role of minorities in candidate
countries in the EU accession process. Regarding this issue, WTMUGA stated the lack of an
effective minority rights policy within the EU, stating that the Copenhagen Criteria are a
requirement that only candidate countries must accept during the accession process and are
not implemented by some member states. He emphasized that this situation creates a double
standard, and that a state like Greece, an EU member for decades, does not even recognize the
existence of any national minorities within its territory.
The forum concluded with the reading of the conference declaration following the final
session on sports and cross-border cooperation.
