News archive

The international seminar and expert meeting on "Asymmetry in Decentralised Systems – Balancing Regional Diversity with National Harmony" brought together scholars and practitioners from Australia, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Philippines, South Africa and Switzerland. Our project team was represented by Sergiu Constantin (Institute for Minority Rights, Eurac Research) and Tove Malloy (European Centre for Minority Issues). The event was organized by Max Plank Foundation and Max Plank Institute (Germany), Andalas University (Indonesia) and Curtin University (Australia).

The 2018 Summer School explores the theme of "Power Sharing in Divided Societies" by examining the challenge of complex diversity, through the​oretical and empirical perspectives from Europe, Middle East, Southeast Asia and South America. In seminars and workshops led by international experts, participants will critically engage with topics including international minority protection instruments, constitutional design in divided societies, religious and cultural diversity, and borders and cross-border cooperation. The Summer School will take place in the period 9 - 20 July 2018 and the deadline for application is 30 April 2018. Scholarships are available.​ Read more...​

While visiting Corsica, president Macron offered to add a special mention of the island into the French Constitution but ruled out giving the Corsican language an official status and rejected other demands of the nationalist parties. In December 2017, a coalition of nationalist parties won 41 of the 63 seats in Corsica's regional assembly. The nationalists claim inter alia autonomy and a special status for the island in the French Constitution, official status for Corsican language alongside French and amnesty for Corsicans jailed for pro-independence violence. Read more....​

The three parties of Hungarian minority in Romania signed a joint resolution on autonomy concepts. They claim regional autonomy for Szeklerland (a historical region with Hungarian majority population), "special administrative status" for Partium (a historical region with a significant Hungarian population), administrative autonomy for municipalities with Hungarian majority population and cultural autonomy for all Hungarians living in Romania. Most ethnic Hungarians of Romania live in Transylvania, which became part of Romania after the First World War. Read more...​

A referendum on independence was held in Iraqi Kurdistan on 25 September 2017 despite Iraq's Supreme Court order to suspend the vote after the Iraqi parliament had declared it unconstitutional. On 1 October 2017, Catalonia held its own independence referendum although the Spanish Constitutional Court suspended the Catalan referendum law. Both referendums were met with strong domestic and international criticism. In mid-October, Iraqi troops attacked Kurdish security forces and captured several key disputed areas. On 25 October, Iraqi Kurdistan decided to "freeze" the referendum result and start a dialogue with Baghdad. On 27 October, the Catalan parliament unilaterally declared independence from Spain. Madrid suspended the autonomy of Catalonia, dissolved the Catalan parliament and called for regional elections on 21 December. Read more about the situation in Catalonia and Iraqi Kurdistan​.

Italian northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto voted for greater autonomy in referendums that aim to secure a mandate to negotiate a better financial arrangement with Rome. These referendums were held in line with the Constitution but they are not binding on Rome. According to the Italian Constitution, a greater autonomy may be conceded upon request of the region involved, and on the basis of an agreement between the region and the state. Ultimately, the law has to be approved by both Houses of Parliament with an absolute majority of their members. Lombardy, home to financial hub Milan, accounts for about 20% of Italy's economy. Veneto, which includes the tourist magnet Venice, accounts for 10%. Read more... ​