A round table organised by the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Council of Europe examined progress in protecting national minority rights, remaining challenges and ways to ensure that these rights are upheld in everyday life.
Twenty-five years after the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities entered into force in Serbia, experts and representatives of public institutions, national minority councils and civil society gathered at the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts to assess progress and discuss priorities for the years ahead.
Opening the round table, Maciej Janczak, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, highlighted the importance of minority protection for democracy, equality, participation in public life and social cohesion. While recognising progress in developing the legal and institutional framework, he stressed that the priority is to ensure that minority rights are effectively implemented and make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
Discussions addressed political participation, the use and preservation of minority languages, education, demographic change and the different forms of disadvantage that people may experience. Participants also explored how to strengthen co-operation between public institutions and national minority councils and improve the implementation of minority rights.
The exchange took place in the context of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention’s Fifth Opinion on Serbia, adopted in 2024. The Opinion highlights areas requiring continued attention, including meaningful participation in public affairs, access to education and services in minority languages, and measures to address discrimination and socio-economic exclusion affecting Roma communities.
Looking ahead, participants underlined the importance of reliable data, independent research and closer co-operation between public authorities, minority representatives, academia and civil society. Priorities for the next decade include turning legal guarantees into effective rights, strengthening participation and institutional dialogue, supporting minority-language education and addressing discrimination and exclusion.
The round table was organised withing the action “Combating discrimination and promoting diversity in Serbia”, which part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkiye". The action supports the protection and effective implementation of national minority rights, strengthens anti-discrimination mechanisms and promotes diversity and intercultural dialogue. Through the Council of Europe’s Intercultural Cities approach, it also works with local authorities and communities to develop more inclusive policies and practices.
The event concluded with an exchange of recommendations for 2026–2036, reaffirming the importance of sustained co-operation to ensure that national minority rights are respected and diversity is recognised as an integral part of society.