A successful exchange of views was held between the Council of Europe and the Intergroup on Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages (Minority Intergroup) of the European Parliament on 17 September 2026, in the margins of the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Hallvard Gorseth, Director of Equal Rights and Dignity in the Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity informed MEPs about the regular monitoring activities carried out in the context of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, so far, the only treaties in the world to protect and promote the rights of national minorities and regional or minority languages.

He also informed of the latest publications and thematic factsheets, emphasising that the recommendations therein aim, inter alia, to contribute to transversal policy making.  There was a common agreement that members of parliaments, at national, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, as well as European Parliament level play an important role in supporting the efforts of effective implementation of these recommendations and of further ratifications.

The invitation followed up on the exchange started between the EP Minority Intergroup and the Council of Europe in June 2025.