The annual gathering of the Danish minority in
Germany – in the region of Schleswig, at the
German-Danish border – was dedicated this year to the national minorities in Europe.

Sydslesvigsk Forening (SSF) – the organiser of the gathering of the Danes in Germany – is an active member in FUEN. Heinrich Schultz, vice-president of FUEN, is a former chairman of the Danish minority. His successor Dieter Paul Küssner is member in the European Dialogue Forum of FUEN.

The Årsmøde (annual gathering) attracted 15 000 visitors to several events organised all over southern Schleswig. The main event in Flensburg alone saw 4 000 guests, friends and members of the Danish minority.

Highlights of the Årsmøde this year were the
concerts of the “Voices of Europe” – choir of the Youth of European Nationalities (YEN). The minority choir led by conductor Peter Shannon enthralled the audience with performances in Eckernförde, Schleswig and at the main event in Flensburg in the presence of the Danish foreign minister Per Stig Møller.

FUEN-president Hans Heinrich Hansen participated in a discussion about the situation of the
autochthonous minorities in Europe. In the main building of the Danish minority in Flensburg – the Flensborghus – a vivid discussion took place about the future significance of the minorities in a closer and closer cooperating Europe as well as about the issue of new and old minorities.

Vice-president Heinrich Schultz and FUEN-director Jan Diedrichsen also participated in several events during the Årsmøde.

Here you can download the contribution by Hans Heinrich Hansen.

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