Europäisches Zentrum für Föderalismus-Forschung

Regionale und kommunale Kooperation in Europa

Vom Grenzkampf zum friedlichen Miteinander: Nationale Minderheiten und regionale Kooperation im deutsch-dänischen Grenzraum Sønderjylland/Schleswig

Wilfried Lagler

S. 539-558

Fifty years ago, in March 1955, governments in Bonn and Copenhagen agreed upon unilateral and almost identical minority declarations which lead to an entire settlement of all existing minority problems on both sides of the border. Minority protection in Schleswig is based on an implied reciprocity between both neighbour states. A legally binding international agreement was avoided, because Denmark refused to accept a formal treaty. It is a well established opinion that the hundred-year-old minority conflict in Schleswig has been settled in such a way that the German-Danish border region may be characterised as a model for the settlement of minority conflicts or at least an example for solving problems of a similar kind elsewhere in Europe. Both minorities have been able to build up and maintain  with substantial subsidies and support from both countries  an educational, cultural and social system of a celebrated high standard. This paper presents an outline of the main developments since 1864 in an area, characterised by a mixed German-Danish population and culture which cannot be separated by an exact line. Both Germans in North Schleswig (about 12.000 to 20.000) and Danes in Germany (50.000 to 60.000) are minorities by will. Belonging has been an article of faith, based on personal decision rather than on language, religion, race or other objective criteria. After a brief look at current figures and at regional cooperation in this area which started in 1973 when Denmark became member of the European Community, the question of model settlement of minority issues is discussed. Schleswig looks more like a case of historical fortune than a means by which other ethnic or border conflicts can be solved.

Zitiervorschlag für diesen Artikel:
Lagler, Wilfried 2005: Vom Grenzkampf zum friedlichen Miteinander: Nationale Minderheiten und regionale Kooperation im deutsch-dänischen Grenzraum Sønderjylland/Schleswig, in: Europäisches Zentrum für Föderalismus-Forschung (Hrsg.): Jahrbuch des Föderalismus 2005. Föderalismus, Subsidiarität und Regionen in Europa, Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, S. 539-558.