ABTTF participates in conference on Interplay of European National and Regional Identities

The Federation of Western Thrace Turks (ABTTF) participated in the conference entitled “Interplay of European National and Regional Identities: Nations between States along the new Eastern borders of the European Union” organized by European National and Regional Studies (ENRI)-East. Ali Türkelli from the ABTTF International Affairs Department participated on behalf of ABTTF in the conference which took place at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

Supported by the 7th Framework Program, the project researched how minorities were formed in Europe

Dr. Andreas Obermaier from DG Research explained that at the end of the 3 year project, supported by the 7th Framework Program, helped shed light on minority issues following EU’s eastern enlargement. Prof. Hans-Georg Heinrich stated that the research played an important role in the understanding of European identities and regional culture in the Eastern part of the European continent, as an obvious difference could be seen when maps of Europe in 1914 and 2010 were compared.

Immigration from Central and Eastern Europe brought diversity issues to the table

Dr. Barbara Dietz stated that there was much migration to Germany from Central and Eastern European Countries and they are researching the level of integration of these people to the society. She also explained that immigration from NIS countries have contributed to the migration consideration in Germany, which led them to focus on diversity and pluralisation especially in the labour market and social policy considerations.