The President of the Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Dr. Balint Juhas, and the Vice President of the Provincial Government and Provincial Secretary for Education, Regulations, Administration and National Minorities – National Communities, Robert Otot, today presented contracts for the co-financing of the activities of national councils of national minorities that have their registered headquarters on the territory of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.
From the provincial budget, a total of 90 million dinars has been allocated for the activities and functioning of 17 national councils in 2026.
Addressing those present, President Juhas emphasized that the diversity of peoples, languages and cultures represents one of the greatest riches of Vojvodina.
“Vojvodina is a space where history has never been written in only one language. Diversity has emerged through the encounters of peoples, cultures and traditions and has become the foundation of our shared life. The strength of Vojvodina has never been in the fact that we are all the same, but in the fact that we know how to live together,” he stated, adding that since 2015 more than 700 million dinars have been allocated through the provincial budget for the work of national councils.
“The purpose of investing in the work of national councils is not in the numbers themselves, but in what they make possible: that schools and programs in the mother tongue exist, that cultural institutions and the traditions of communities are preserved, that there are media outlets in the languages of national minorities, and that the languages which have lived in this area for centuries have their future. Therefore, today’s signing of contracts is not merely an administrative act, but a confirmation of a clear policy that different identities represent the wealth of our province,” Juhas emphasized.
Provincial Secretary Robert Otot pointed out that the signing of these contracts represents the continuation of the consistent policy of the Provincial Government aimed at preserving the rights of national communities, nurturing their identity, and strengthening multiculturalism in Vojvodina.
“National councils play a key role in preserving the language, culture and traditions of their communities, as well as in developing education and information in the mother tongue. It is very important that national councils have stable working conditions and clear institutional support, because strong communities contribute to stability, development and mutual trust in our society,” Otot said.
The contracts were signed for the co-financing of permanent costs and regular activities of national councils, that is, for programs and activities in the fields of education, culture, information and the official use of language and script, as well as for the work of institutions and organizations founded by national councils. The funds are allocated in accordance with established criteria.
The Provincial Government of Vojvodina has approved funds for the National Council of the Romanian National Minority for the year 2026.
For financing, the following funds have been approved:
- regular activities: 2,718,520.00 dinars
- permanent costs: 3,648,400.00 dinars
The total amount approved from the budget of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is 6,366,920.00 dinars.
The funds were allocated on the basis of the Provincial Assembly’s decision on the financing of national councils of national minorities for 2026.
