FUEN President Vincze: Greece does not implement ECtHR decisions
National minorities in Europe and the Turkish society of Western Thrace were discussed in the "Reality in Our Country" program.
The ninth episode of the "Facts in Our Country" program of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) was broadcast on 14 July 2022.
In the ninth program, Loránt Vincze, Member of the European Parliament (EP) Member of the Hungarian minority in Romania and President of the Federal Union of European Nations (FUEN), was hosted.
The online program was moderated by Deniz Servantie from ABTTF Brussels Representation.
The current situation of national minorities in Europe and the steps to be taken for the protection of national minorities at the European Union (EU) level were discussed.
Vincze answered the questions about the Western Thrace Turkish community in Greece and the broader view of minority rights in the country. The European Citizens Initiative called “Minorities Protection Package (MSPI)” coordinated by FUEN was also presented.
Vincze, who is also the Co-Chair of the EP Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages Intergroup, stated that communities that differ from the majority population with their language, culture, customs and traditions are defined as national or indigenous minorities. Some EU member states such as Greece do not recognize national minorities within their borders at all.
Stating that approximately 40 million people in Europe speak various minority languages, Vincze underlined the need for mother tongue education, funding of institutions belonging to national minorities and supporting media outlets.
Vincze said that national minorities should be given opportunities in different areas, such as the provision of facilities for the use of minority languages in the public sphere.
Noting that the situation in EU member states is different from one to another, Vincze said that while national minorities are not recognized in Greece and France, however the Swedish-speaking community in Finland and the German and Laden national minorities in Italy in the South Tyrol region are recognized and strongly protected.
THE MUSLIM TURKISH MINORITY of WESTERN THRACE
Vincze emphasized that the term "Muslim minority in Thrace" is used by Greece for the Western Thrace Turkish Minority, that this is unacceptable and noted that language and religion are two different issues.
Underlining that even the slightest positive step was not taken by Greece in the implementation of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding the associations of the Western Thrace Turkish community, Vincze said that Greece is far from being the cradle of democracy because it does not implement the standards regarding minority rights.
He said that FUEN used different means to increase the pressure against Greece in order to solve the problems of the Western Thrace Turkish society.
Noting that this was not enough, Vincze pointed out that the pressure in question should come from institutions across Europe such as the Council of Europe and the EU.
Vincze stated that MSPI, coordinated by FUEN, was launched to provide strong support for national minorities, their rights, cultures and languages, and within this framework, very different demands were added to the initiative.
He said that MSPI is a concept and that they are now stronger and more determined, despite the EU Commission's rejection of legislative proposals in the initiative.
Noting that EU member states such as Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Italy and Hungary are already supporting the initiative, Vincze stated that they expect to win the case they brought before the European Court of Justice regarding the rejection of the initiative soon.
Finally, stating that they encourage the support of the languages and cultures of national minorities that are part of Europe's cultural heritage. Vincze noted that the EU should take more care of national minorities and their languages and cultures, and that this should also be supported by the majority societies.
