Northern and
Southern Schleswig
Denmark & GermanyJune 28 - July 7, 2024.

News

Football as a global language - why EUROPEADA exists


Old costumes, old dances, old festivities – that's what many people think of first when they hear about national minorities. And it's not entirely wrong: many of the four hundred minority communities in Europe not only cultivate their language, but also their traditions. But this is only one part of the truth, because they also share the preferences and culture of the majority in their country. And thus, of course, the love of football. The beautiful game connects majorities with minorities and minorities with each other.  If FUEN hadn't invented EUROPEADA back in 2008, it would have to do so now at the latest. FUEN is the largest umbrella organisation of autochthonous national minorities and represents more than 100 member organisations in 36 European countries.

"Each of them sees that they are not alone in their minority experience"

"It started with the idea of some member organisations that we should go beyond talking about the rights of minorities at various conferences, and that we should find opportunities to have new experiences," says Loránt Vincze, the president of FUEN. In the meantime, EUROPEADA itself has become a tradition that reinvents itself every four years.

It brings together not only the officials of minority organisations, but currently around 1000 people from 24 different minorities.  Each of them realises that they are not alone in their minority experience. After all, one in seven citizens in Europe belongs to an ethnic or linguistic minority.

Last year's Cultural Day

"This raises awareness of other minorities," says Tore Wächter, coach of the Danish minority selection in Germany. "I used to think that we were special because of our participation in politics. But that also applies to other minorities, some of which are even bigger."

Internal and external impact

The respective host regions also offer different new experiences for the guests with their special features. "We are now in the German-Danish-Frisian border region, which has a very interesting history and where there is now peaceful coexistence between the minorities and the majority of the two states," says Vincze. "This is a great example for everyone who comes here from the different teams."

In addition to the internal impact, EUROPEADA also has a strong external impact. The individual minorities can showcase their culture and language. And all together, they have the opportunity to showcase their diversity and differences. This is why the Culture Day was organised, which is not only the proverbial mountain festival of EUROPEADA, but this time even takes place on a real mountain, the Knivsberg in North Schleswig. (For all those who come from the mountainous regions of Europe: don't be surprised that a 100 metre high elevation is called a mountain here in the north).

Campaign for minority rights and against hate speech

FUEN's main task is to stand up for national minorities in Europe. Throughout Europe, there are around 50 million Europeans who belong to national minorities. The language groups are in different situations. Some are not even recognised, others have a proper legislative framework and autonomy. "We don't want it to depend on where you were born whether you are in a good situation or not," says Vincze. FUEN is fighting for European standards in minority rights with the Minority SafePack, a package of legislative proposals designed to ensure the protection of national minorities. 

EUROPEADA also offers FUEN the opportunity to find allies in the political arena as well as in the field of sport politics, for example during talks with Schleswig-Holstein's Minister President Daniel Günther during the opening day.

Another topic that is currently particularly close to FUEN's heart will also find a platform at EUROPEADA: the joint fight with UEFA and the DFB against hate speech.

"We want to show how bad it is for societies to target a tiny section of society and say you have to get out of here, you have nothing to do with us," says Vincze. "We have to stop that. Our campaign goes until the end of the year and I hope many will hear this message."

Wednesday, 3 July, 11 am - 3 pm: Cultural day with music, sport and information at Knivsberg

Football as a global language - why EUROPEADA exists

Latest news

Event

European Football Championship of the autochthonous national minorities

European Football Championship of the autochthonous national minorities

Organisation

Federal Union of European Nationalities

Federal Union of European Nationalities

 

Mute Hate Speech

Mute Hate Speech

Partners

Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland de / UEFA

Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland de / UEFA

 

Sydslesvigudvalget

Sydslesvigudvalget

 

Sportland SH

Sportland SH

 

Stadt Flensburg

Stadt Flensburg

 

Kreis Schleswig-Flensburg

Kreis Schleswig-Flensburg

 

Tønder Kommune

Tønder Kommune

 

Region Syddanmark

Region Syddanmark

 

Haderslev Kommune

Haderslev Kommune

 

Aabenraa Kommune

Aabenraa Kommune

 

Sønderborg Kommune

Sønderborg Kommune

 

Kreis Nordfriesland

Kreis Nordfriesland

 

Kreis Rendsburg-Eckernförde

Kreis Rendsburg-Eckernförde

 

Miniszterelnökség, Nemzetpolitikai Államtitkárság Bethlen Gábor Alap

Miniszterelnökség, Nemzetpolitikai Államtitkárság Bethlen Gábor Alap

Local organisers

German Minority in Denmark

German Minority in Denmark

 

Sinti and Roma Organisation

Sinti and Roma Organisation

 

North Frisian Minority Association

North Frisian Minority Association

 

Danish minority in Germany

Danish minority in Germany

Local sponsors

Select

Select

 

Union Bank

Union Bank

 

Rohde Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH

Rohde Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH

 

Flensborg Avis

Flensborg Avis

 

Der Nordschleswiger

Der Nordschleswiger

 

Na Logo

Na Logo

 

Hotel des Nordens

Hotel des Nordens

 

Hudl

Hudl

 

hpo Steuerberater

hpo Steuerberater

 

Strandet

Strandet

 

Naturgeflüster

Naturgeflüster

 

Flensburger Brauerei

Flensburger Brauerei

 

Knipskasten Flensburg

Knipskasten Flensburg

 

Phono Flensburg

Phono Flensburg