Turks of Kosovo and North Macedonia presented at European Parliament meeting
Turkish communities in Kosovo and North Macedonia were highlighted at a meeting held at the European Parliament under the Intergroup on Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages.
The session, organized on April 30 in Strasbourg, took place with the initiative and support of the Federal Union of European Nationalities Turkish Minorities/Communities Working Group (TAG), focusing both on the visibility of these communities and the challenges they face.
High-Level Participation
The meeting was chaired by Loránt Vincze (EPP, Romania), and brought together Members of the European Parliament alongside key representatives from Turkish communities in the Balkans.
Participants included Sevgi Buş Kika, advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo and spokesperson of the Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party, Şeval Nuredin from the Turkish Democratic Party, and Deniz Servantie from the TAG Secretariat.
Focus on Minority Rights and EU Integration
In the first part of the meeting, discussions centered on FUEN’s ongoing efforts to protect the rights of national and local minorities across Europe. The second session featured detailed presentations on the status of Turkish communities in Kosovo and North Macedonia.
Deniz Servantie emphasized that both communities were introduced under the umbrella of FUEN TAG, noting that North Macedonia is an EU candidate country while Kosovo has formally applied for EU membership.
Kosovo: Recognition and Ongoing Challenges
Speaking on behalf of Kosovo, Sevgi Buş Kika highlighted the role of the Turkish community in the country’s multicultural structure since its independence in 2008.
She noted that April 23 is officially recognized as Kosovo Turks National Day, symbolizing the formal recognition of the Turkish community, and has been celebrated as a public holiday since 2009.
Buş Kika also underlined that Turkish holds official language status in several municipalities and is used in education from preschool to university level. However, she pointed to ongoing challenges, including limited access to public services in Turkish and the risk of youth migration abroad.
North Macedonia: Founding Community with Structural Needs
Şeval Nuredin stressed that Turks are one of the founding communities of North Macedonia, with a population of approximately 80,000, contributing actively to the country’s cultural and economic life.
He highlighted the presence of Turkish-language education at all levels and its contribution to multilingualism. Nuredin also noted the role of civil society organizations operating under MATÜSİTEB in strengthening social cohesion.
At the same time, he pointed to structural challenges, including shortages of teachers and educational materials, the need for stronger representation in public institutions, and improved access to education and employment opportunities for young people.
Continued Advocacy at European Level
The meeting underscored the importance of maintaining visibility for minority communities within European institutions, particularly in the context of EU enlargement and democratic standards.
Participants emphasized that addressing these challenges will be key to ensuring equal rights and sustainable development for Turkish communities in both countries.
