Croatian World Congress in Germany
The Croatian World Congress in Germany e. V. (KWKD) ( Croatian Hrvatski svjetski kongres u Njemačkoj , HSKNJ ; English Croatian World Congress , CWC ) is a non-partisan umbrella organization with over 45 member associations, a voluntary union of Croatian associations and corporations in the Federal Republic of Germany. Approx. 300,000 Croatian citizens and an estimated additional 160,000 citizens of Croatian origin live in Germany and thus form the fifth largest group of migrants in Germany .
history
The association was founded in 1994 in Frechen near Cologne . This was preceded by the establishment of the Croatian World Congress on a global level in 1993. The background was the break-up of Yugoslavia and the accompanying war in Croatia . The main motives were the networking of the globally scattered Diaspora Croats, following the example of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), the encouragement to return home and humanitarian aid for the country, which was torn by the turmoil of war. Accordingly, the first KWKD projects aimed in particular at humanitarian support for refugees in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina , the collection of financial resources for Croatia as well as raising the awareness of the German and European public for the war and for intervention by the international community (e.g. through demonstrations ). Even after the end of the war in 1995, the focus of activity was primarily on humanitarian aid for the reconstruction of the country and the clear home orientation was retained. Since a large number of Croatians already lived in Germany as a result of the guest worker agreement, a large number of Croatian associations throughout Germany were involved in the umbrella organization. Over the years, the club was joined by younger, second generation Croatians. With the rejuvenation, the focus of KWKD's activities also changed. The focus was no longer predominantly in the direction of Croatia, but increasingly oriented itself towards the “new / second home Germany”. While the KWKD continues to see itself as a lobbying body for Croats in Germany, the new focus of activity has arisen due to the social importance of integration for Germany and the size of the Croatian migrant group.
aims
Since autumn 2013 the association has been part of the structural funding project of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees together with ten other migrant organizations .
The association has set itself the goal of promoting and continuing the integration process in the host and home countries, but also to preserve Croatia's cultural and intellectual heritage. As part of the structural funding project, the active exchange with the member associations as well as the continuous maintenance of contact with other migrant self-organizations are to be further promoted. At the same time, great importance is attached to maintaining and strengthening the Croatian identity in the migrant group. By acting as a bridge between Germany and Croatia, the KWKD makes a valuable contribution to the intercultural exchange between Germany and Croatia.
As the mouthpiece of its members in Germany, the association represents them in government and non-governmental organizations. Due to the large, heterogeneous and representative membership structure, the KWKD advocates the general interests of the Croatian migrant group vis-à-vis German and Croatian politics and the public. With his supraregional structures he works on a nationwide network of the Croats in the sense of a bundling of common interests and more effective action. This results in one of the primary goals of the KWKD, namely to continue the already successful integration of Croatians into German society with funds from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
The KWKD is committed to strengthening German-Croatian relations in the political, social and economic areas. Contacts have been successfully established with various German institutions at federal, state and local level. Close relationships exist with the Croatian embassy (or consulates) and the Croatian Catholic communities in Germany; as well as with the Croatian media (print, online) and journalists in Germany. Cultural, humanitarian and sports projects are also part of the KWKD's working groups. Most of the projects are carried out together with the KWKD members. In relation to the early years, the projects mostly focus on the new home country Germany.
Members
The KWKD consists of regional umbrella organizations, associations and individual members. The members are based in eight German federal states and, in addition to cultural and sports associations, also form charitable and home associations as well as student associations. In regional terms, members from the following cities / federal states are represented: Berlin, Hamburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony.
organization structure
The association in Germany has three organs:
- the general assembly
- the congressional committee
- the board
The general assembly is the highest body of the KWKD and meets at least once a year. All corporations, associations and natural persons who are members of the KWKD belong to it. The assembly decides on all matters of fundamental importance affecting the interests of the association, in particular on its guidelines and on the statement of accounts to be submitted by the board. The general assembly elects the board, the members of the congress committee, the members of the arbitration committee and the cash auditor. The congress committee controls the work of the board between the general assemblies. He receives reports from the board of directors and makes decisions within the scope of the powers of the general assembly.
The board consists of 13 people. It includes the chairman, two deputy chairmen, two managing directors, the secretary, the treasurer and six assessors with voting rights. Without voting rights, the chairmen of the congress committee and the specialist committees belong to the board, unless they have already been elected to the board as full members. The board meets at least four times a year. Furthermore, the practical work of the congress is carried out in the following working groups (technical committees):
- integration
- media
- Culture, youth and sport
- science and education
- Politics, economy and cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)
- Humanitarian aid
As a non-governmental organization, it is currently a passive member of the United Nations through the Croatian World Congress , which operates on a global level . The association pursues directly and exclusively charitable and charitable purposes within the meaning of the tax code.
financing
In addition to membership and sponsorship contributions, the KWKD is currently financed from the structural funding project of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Federal Statistical Office: 2015 Census Germany. statista, accessed May 27, 2016 .