ABTTF announces European Parliament Conference: Freedom of Association in Greece: A Loophole in European Minority Rights Standards

On 2 March 2016, the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) in cooperation with the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) will be organising a high level conference entitled ‘Freedom of Association in Greece: A Loophole in European Minority Rights Standards’ at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. The conference hosted by Csaba Sógor MEP (EPP) will take place from 15h00 to 17h00 in the room ASP 5E3.

While respect for the rights of persons belonging to minorities is one of the core values of the EU – a value the Union has committed to promoting and protecting worldwide – there still remains a large discrepancy between policy and practice even within EU Member States. One of the most alarming accounts can be found in Greece, where ethnic minorities are being deprived of one of their fundamental human rights: freedom of association. This has been expressed, amongst others, through the banning of some associations bearing a name with the word ‘minority’ or the name of an ethnic group. Despite several rulings by the European Court of Human Rights upholding that the Republic of Greece is violating the rights of freedom of assembly and association of its national minorities, Greek authorities have for more than a decade delayed their implementation and refrained from amending the Code of Civil Procedures.

This conference will bring together politicians, minority representatives, experts, and civil society to discuss the overlooked violations of freedom of association in Greece from the perspective of various minority groups in the country. It will also seek possible ways forward in addressing the lack of implementation of international law and ECtHR rulings, as well as analyse the effectiveness of European regulations for the protection of minority rights.

Confirmed speakers include:

- Csaba Sógor MEP (EPP)
- Nils Torvalds MEP (ALDE)
- Marino Busdachin, Secretary General of UNPO
- Melek Kirmaci Arik, International Affairs Director of ABTTF
- Panayote Dimitras, Spokesperson of the Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM)
- Eugenia Natsoulidou, Founder of the Macedonian Educative and Culture Movement of Edessa