Minority Intergroup of the European Parliament (Intergroup on Traditional minorities, national communities and languages)
In the European Parliament MEPs can set up informal inter-groups to represent major social or political issues. A group of MEPs first took the initiative to work together across political groups to preserve minority languages and cultures in 1983. Under different names the Intergroup on Minorities has been reconstituted every parliamentary term since 1983, and when it was reconstituted in 2020, it was made up of 42 MEPs from 18 Member States. The aim of the working group, which is committed to the preservation, protection, and representation of traditional minorities, ethnic communities and minority languages, is to ensure that the protection of linguistic and cultural diversity is reflected in as many EU programmes as possible, and to raise awareness of the social and economic problems of minorities in the EU. The Intergroup on Minorities is also active in the drafting and adoption of parliamentary resolutions in support of minority rights. (See also: cultural, religious and linguistic diversity.)