This story is based on an Impact Analysis of COST as carried out by Technopolis and interviews with ENTAN COST Action participants.
Rethinking how minority rights are protected
In many political systems, the will of the majority often silences minority voices. Federalism can help, but only if minorities live in specific territories. So, what can be done when communities are scattered across a country or region?
Non-territorial autonomy (NTA) offers a promising solution. This allows cultural, linguistic or ethnic minorities to manage their own affairs without requiring a defined geographic area. Despite its potential, NTA has not been widely studied or well understood. The COST Action European Non-Territorial Autonomy Network (ENTAN) aimed to change that.
A research network with real-world goals
ENTAN brought together researchers and stakeholders from across Europe to examine the practical application of NTA and its potential to promote minority rights. The aim was to move beyond theory and provide educators, policymakers, and civil society with practical tools.
To make NTA more accessible, the team produced short videos introducing the concept and the work of the project:
ENTAN resulted in many achievements: 22 open-access, peer-reviewed publications were produced, including three conference proceedings volumes, case studies, an NTA state-of-the-art report and the first NTA university textbook. ENTAN also produced 150 videos, including conference presentation recordings, educational videos and 12 policy papers. These materials have been compiled in an online NTA research database and are now being used in university courses on ethnic politics, conflict resolution and minority rights, ensuring that the work of ENTAN remains relevant long after the project ended.
ENTAN training schools, multiple short-term scientific missions and outreach activities have significantly advanced understanding of NTA within the academic community. For instance, at a training school in Sønderborg, Denmark, researchers and students visited the Danish-German border region to observe cultural autonomy in practice. In Bar, Montenegro, participants learned how NTA can affirm minority language and cultural rights in daily life. As the local organisers said, “This event is particularly significant for Montenegro and the municipality of Bar, as it is one of the best examples of intercultural harmony and respect, particularly in the context of European integration.”
The Action research also benefited society by raising awareness among policymakers and administrations of the potential of NTA for conflict prevention and social development.
A young researcher’s perspective
Dr Branko Bošković, who joined ENTAN as a young researcher and Science Communication Coordinator, reflects on the Action’s impact on his research and career:
“My involvement with ENTAN has influenced my work in several significant ways. It taught me how to work with a large group of researchers from different countries and backgrounds. Building connections and contacts was essential for improving my knowledge in this area, as well as for exchanging opinions and views on various issues.
All of these had a positive impact on my visibility as a researcher and as a person active in the COST network. It strengthened my human and social capital, and my involvement with COST Actions and similar projects has increased. ENTAN was an experience that opened many doors during and after the project”.
Branko also completed a short-term scientific mission at the University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain. Reflecting on his experience, he summarises: “The major aim of the STSM was to do research on autonomy in Spain. Autonomy has a different meaning in different countries, and Spain has a specific constitutional organisation. The focus was on the status of the Basque Country and the rights granted to its citizens, in comparison with other regions in Spain. This STSM is part of the broader research on autonomy in Southern Europe. It was an opportunity to meet relevant researchers and prepare potential future cooperation between individuals from the two universities, as well as the two institutions.”
Lasting results and long-term impact
ENTAN publications, particularly the university textbook, have broadened the availability of educational resources and are now being used, and will continue to be used, in higher education courses on ethnic politics, conflict resolution, and minority rights.
“ENTAN researchers wanted to step beyond the scientific circles to do something for a country or a national minority. COST supported that.” Prof. Ivan Dodovski, Chair of the Action ENTAN
However, its most enduring legacy may be the shift in how people perceive minority rights, not merely as legal or political issues, but as deeply human concerns requiring education, outreach, and inclusion.
As Professor Ivan Dodovski of the University American College Skopje, Chair of the Action, explains:
“We did not expect in the beginning that there would be so many outputs with societal impact […] But it lies in the nature of our research. We work on issues important to the communities, and so we wished to do more than publish a paper. Researchers wanted to step beyond the scientific circles to do something for a country or a national minority. COST supported that.”
Although the Action has officially ended, the ENTAN network continues to operate informally. Researchers are still in contact with each other and sharing progress on new projects.
Additional information:
View the Action website
Consult the Network website
Consult the ENTAN online database
ENTAN on YouTube
Follow ENTAN on Facebook