PORTFOLIO

On 15-16 November 2012 the University of Fribourg organized its annual Eastern European Days. The event was dedicated to issues of cultural diversity in the macro-regions of post-socialist Eastern and Southeast Europe.

The aim of the conference under the scientific guidance of Prof. Christian Giordano and Prof. François Ruegg was to analyse and to compare the situation of ethnic minorities and related political and public discourses in the Baltic states, in Southeast Europe and in the Southern Caucasus. Undoubtedly these regions are quite diverse not only concerning their historical, political and religious traditions but also concerning their status as EU-members or non-members. And indeed the introduction of international standards for the protection of minorities and the implementation of measures for the adjustment of the living conditions of disadvantaged social segments represent important accession criteria as well as a basis for EU-funding.

The conference was opened on 15 November with a keynote speech by Antoinette Primatarova (Sofia) entitled «The Fifth Enlargement of the European Union: Reunification of Divided Europe or the Reinventing of Eastern Europe?». The second day consisted in presentations by the participants.

The conference identified important characteristics, developments and new dimensions concerning multicultural cohabitation, migration and diaspora building.

The organizers expect to publish a book with the best papers presented during the conference.