Macedonian minority rights advocacy in Albania

The Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) has moved to advocate for the rights of the Macedonian minority in Albania following the unanimous adoption of a resolution at a congress in Helsinki.

The resolution, proposed by the Macedonian Society ‘Ilinden-Tirana’, outlines several key demands: the official renaming of the Pustec Municipality to Prespa Municipality, the preservation of Pustec as a distinct local government unit during administrative reforms, and the ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages by Albania. The document also seeks to protect Macedonian identity from assimilation and denial.

Following the adoption, FUEN has requested support from the Macedonian Alliance for European Integration (MAEI) to implement the resolution. FUEN President Olivia Schubert noted the organization’s intent to represent indigenous national minorities before international bodies such as the UN, Council of Europe, EU, and OSCE. MAEI President Vasil Sterjoski characterized the development as a significant step toward bringing Macedonian minority rights to European-level attention.