On 25 September 2024, the ACFC published its 14th Activity report covering the period from 1 June 2022 to 31 May 2024. In the report, the ACFC notes worrying trends against diversity and minority rights in Europe, despite some positive developments and good practices. These trends include increasing instrumentalisation of minority policies for political ends, perceiving national minorities as a security treat, a danger of societal disintegration as a result of scapegoating and exclusion of individuals based on their ethnic affiliations, as well as challenges related to economic inequalities disproportionally affecting persons belonging to national minorities. On the positive side, the ACFC observes improved collection of data on multiple ethnic affiliations, a more flexible approach to the scope of application of the FCNM, strengthening of anti-discrimination frameworks and property restitution mechanisms, resolution of many matters concerning religious minorities, better access to broadcasts for minorities thanks to digital mass media, as well as progress in the use of minority languages in administration and education.

The Advisory Committee held its first plenary in the new composition from 14 to 18 October 2024 in Strasbourg and elected a new Bureau. Eight experts elected in respect of Albania, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Netherlands, Serbia and Ukraine joined the remaining ten Advisory Committee members in Strasbourg to, inter alia, elect a new Bureau. The new Bureau, composed of Petra Roter (member in respect of Slovenia) as President, Besarion Bokhashvili (member in respect of Georgia) as First Vice-President, and David Smith (member in respect of the United Kingdom) as Second Vice-President, will direct the Committee’s work for the coming two years.

The adoption of the resolution by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers is the final step of the monitoring cycle for a given state party. Denmark and Liechtenstein are the first states parties to the Framework Convention to complete the 6th monitoring cycle with the adoption of the respective resolutions by the Committee of Ministers. More are to follow soon.

So far, over the second half of the year, the Advisory Committee has conducted two monitoring visits, starting with the 6th cycle visit to Cyprus from 5-8 November, followed by a monitoring visit to Spain from 12-15 November 2024. A delegation of the Advisory Committee will visit Hungary from 2-6 December 2024 in the frame of the 6th monitoring cycle. Moreover, three new Advisory Committee Opinions have been published over the past semester: the 4th cycle Opinion on Montenegro and the 5th cycle Opinions on Azerbaijan and Bulgaria. The Opinions on Ireland and Lithuania, adopted at the last plenary meeting of the Advisory Committee, will become public early next year.