2026 Summer School: Europe’s Non-Kin-State Minorities: Profiles and Realities

This year Summer School aims to provide a platform for stock-taking of non-kin-state minorities (NKSM) of various categories, examining their relations with host states, and the challenges they face in realising their linguistic, socio-economic, and political rights in the absence of an external kin-state. It will bring together young academics, scholars, and minority practitioners, offering a safe, intellectually nurturing space for networking and discussing the realities and profiles of NKSM in Europe.

While kin-state politics have garnered significant scholarly and political attention (including the 2025 Summer School organised by the Coppieters Foundation and ECMI), numerous minority communities in Europe do not benefit from the backing that kin-states provide and vary in size, territorial concentration, and legal standing. NKSM groups include territorially organised minorities (e.g. Catalans, Basques, and Corsicans), territorially concentrated but minoritised groups (West Frisians), small and endangered minorities (Sorbs and North Frisians), dispersed communities (Roma and Sinti), and Indigenous peoples (Saami and Greenlanders).

This Summer School will examine these five types of NKSM, allowing for a comparative assessment of how linguistic vitality, social cohesion, access to education, and relations with the state are shaped in the absence of a kin-state. Among other topics, Summer School participants will learn about the role of Europeanisation and international organisations in advancing the rights of NKSM.

The programme will combine traditional and non-formal educational methods, interactive sessions, and networking activities, and will encourage participants to engage critically with the course topics from different perspectives and disciplinary approaches.

The schedule will include:

• Lectures and seminars by experts in the field of minority rights and minority issues
• Interactive workshops, panel discussions, and group work for immersive learning experiences
• Exclusive networking opportunities with local stakeholders, enhancing practical understanding through real-world examples
• A field visit to the island of Föhr, home to a significant North Frisian community
• An array of social events to enhance the learning experience and foster connections.

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This event is financially supported by the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not liable for the content of the event nor the opinions of the speakers.

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This Summer School is a joint initiative of Coppieters Foundation and ECMI .

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