To what extend can minorities contribute to regional development and what is the status of the German language in Belgium? Are minority languages a valuable asset for regional development? Is it an indispensible condition that positive measures are taken to promote languages in schools, media and administration?

Based on their latest research, scientists tried to give answers to these and similar questions and they presented developments in the study of European minorities, small federal entities and border regions during the third conference “Small is Beautiful” that took place on 31 January, and that was organised by the German-speaking Community in Belgium. There was also a presentation of a new publication about the Statute of Autonomy of the German-speaking Community and about the position of the German language in Belgium.

Besides presenting the research outcomes, the German-speaking community also celebrated that it has had autonomy for 40 years and has had a parliament of its own for 30 years. This was reason for a jubilee reception in the presence of Prime Minister Elio di Rupo of the Kingdom of Belgium, President Alexander Miesen of the Parliament of the German-speaking community and Prime Minister Karl Heinz Lambertz of the German-speaking community.

The coordinator of language diversity, Éva Pénzes, and FUEN President Hans Heinrich Hansen also participated in the conference and attended the reception.

More information about the German-speaking community in Belgium