Annual Report 2005
Publisher: ECMI
Volume: 94 pages, pdf
Description:
The European Centre for Minority Issues has developed into a rather special institution.
The Centre now acts as an advisor in ethnic peace processes in Europe and beyond, it supports governments in meeting international standards in the area of minority rights, and it assists minorities in representing their interests effectively. Increasingly, the Centre also functions as a place of coordination and support through training and capacity building for international organizations, governments and minority representative groups. While mainly funded by governments, the Centre operates entirely independently of state control. In this way, the Centre has been able to act in difficult political contexts with a maximum of credibility, building up the confidence of its partners in its long-term commitment to the impartial improvement of majority-minority relations. This is a unique role in the sensitive area of inter-ethnic relations.