SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH VITALITY AREAS FOR MINORITY LANGUAGES

The NPLD is pleased to announce its 2025 Annual Conference, which will take place in Pamplona | Iruña, in collaboration with Euskarabidea-Government of Navarre. Under the title “Sustainable Development of High Vitality Areas for Minority Languages”, this year’s conference will explore how territories with a high concentration of minority language speakers can serve as models for sustainable linguistic and territorial development. The event will bring together policymakers, researchers and practitioners from across Europe to share experiences and good practices. The keynote speaker of the conference is the researcher of the European Center for Modern Issues Maddi Dorronsoro and will count with the representatives of the Commonwealth of Basque-speaking Municipalities (UEMA), the Government of Wales, the Government of Ireland, the Istitut Cultural Ladin, the city councils of Leitza and Arantza, Euskarabidea, and more. 

Languages of the conference: English, Spanish, Basque and French.

08:30-09:00 Registration

09:00-09:15 Welcoming words

• Mikel Etxebarria|Network to Promote Linguistic Diversity. ViceChair
• Anna Solé |European Commission Ana Ollo Hualde|Government of Navarre. Vice President and Regional Minister of Memory and Coexistence, External Action, and Basque Language

09:15-10:15 Keynote speech Minority Languages and High-vitality areas: from definitions to everyday experiences

• Maddi Dorronsoro |European Center for Minority Issues (ECMI)

10:15-11:00 Arnasguneak: Fundamental breathing spaces in the revitalisation of the Basque language

• Miren Segurola |Commonwealth of Basque-speaking municipalities (UEMA- Udalerri Euskaldunen Mankomunitatea)

11:00-11:30 Coffee break

11.30-13.00 Quick-fire session: cases across Europe

• Sabrina Rasom |Istitut Cultural Ladin “Majon di Fascegn”. Fassa Valley (Autonomous Province of Trento) The Ladin Valleys as a Multicultural Laboratory
• Bethan Webb|Government of Wales Higher Density Linguistic Significance areas in Wales
• Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones|University of Wales Trinity Saint David Community-Based Language Revitalisation: The Case of Prosiect BRO
• Irati Odriozola & Kristina Urrutia|UEMA and City Council of Leitza (Navarre) Basque language and interculturality in Leitza
• Goizane Arana & Leire Mitxelena|UEMA and City Council of Arantza (Navarre) Linguistic impact assessment: Analysis of the Arantza Urban Development Plan
• Eoin Ó Droighneáin|Government of Ireland The language planning process in Ireland – supporting the vitality of the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking region).

MODERATOR: JEREMY EVAS |Government of Wales

13:15-13:30 Closing words

• Jabi Arakama Urtiaga|Euskarabidea. Director

13:30-14:30 Networking Lunch