Croatia Tightens Language Rules As Ghana Plans Conference

As Europe continues to grapple with the complexities of migration, labor shortages, and cultural integration, two notable developments have emerged in early 2026 that underscore the continent’s evolving approach to language, work, and community. In Ghana, the Language Diversity Conference 2026 is ramping up preparations, calling for volunteers to help foster multilingualism and knowledge sharing. Meanwhile, in Croatia, the government has introduced sweeping amendments to its Foreigners Act, placing language acquisition at the heart of its new migration policy.

The Language Diversity Conference 2026, set to take place in Ghana, has officially entered its active planning phase as of February 6, 2026. Organizers are now seeking additional support volunteers to join the existing Core Organising Team (COT), with the aim of ensuring that the event runs smoothly across a range of critical areas. According to the official conference announcement, these volunteers will not add new layers of decision-making but will instead support specific workstreams such as program review, scholarships, communications, logistics, trust and safety, and documentation. The planning timeline stretches from January to October 2026, culminating in onsite activities during the conference itself in October.

For those considering getting involved, the commitment varies by role, but typically ranges from two to six hours per week during peak periods. The call for applications remains open until February 19, 2026, and the conference team is encouraging applications from Wikimedians active in language, community, or affiliate work, as well as individuals experienced in event support, reviews, logistics, or documentation. Notably, previous conference organizing experience is helpful but not required, making the opportunity accessible to a broad range of potential contributors.

Roles available for volunteers span program review and session support, scholarships and travel support (though actual travel bookings are handled by the Wikimedia Foundation), communications and community outreach, logistics and onsite operations, documentation and knowledge sharing, and trust and safety. The organizers emphasize that these positions are crucial for delivering a conference that not only celebrates linguistic diversity but also functions efficiently and inclusively.

While Ghana’s conference aims to foster collaboration and highlight the value of multilingualism in global knowledge movements, Croatia is taking a more regulatory approach to language and integration. On February 5, 2026, the Croatian Government submitted amendments to the Foreigners Act into parliamentary procedure, introducing a mandatory requirement for foreign workers to learn Croatian as a condition for extending their residence and work permits. Under the proposed changes, foreign workers will be required to pass a Croatian language exam at the A1.1 level after one year of residence in Croatia to renew their permits.

This move is part of a broader reform designed to bring Croatian legislation in line with the European Union’s Single Permit Directive and the newly established Pact on Asylum and Migration. According to Hina, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Davor Božinović explained that the changes are also intended to enable in-depth checks on third-country nationals at the EU’s external borders, establish an independent mechanism to monitor respect for fundamental rights, and introduce a border return procedure for those whose asylum applications are rejected.

The Ministry of the Interior asserts that these reforms will ensure a faster and more effective response to labor shortages, reduce administrative burdens, improve permit processing efficiency, and provide stronger protection for third-country workers. At the same time, the government aims to maintain security standards and retain the existing foreign workforce.

Among the significant changes proposed is a new flexibility for foreign workers. They will be permitted to change occupations with the same employer in all professions, not just those classified as labor shortages, subject to a labor market test. Additionally, foreign workers will be able to change employers after six months with their first employer without needing to obtain a new residence and work permit. However, permits issued for shortage occupations will be territorially limited, meaning workers can only be employed in police administration areas where the occupation is considered deficient or where a labor market test has been conducted.

The administrative landscape is also shifting. The deadline for issuing residence and work permits will be extended to 90 days, and the period of permitted unemployment during the validity of a permit will increase to three months, or six months for those who have held a permit for more than two years. Seasonal work permits, previously limited to one year, will now be valid for three years when issued to the same worker and employer in the same occupation. Seasonal workers may work up to 90 days per calendar year or up to nine months annually. For students, temporary residence permits will be extended from one year to three years.

Employers face new requirements and stricter oversight. Those found to have committed irregularities and placed on a so-called “black list” will be barred from obtaining new work permits for one year following the inspection ruling. The responsibility for notifying police administrations of employment termination will shift from the foreign worker to the employer, who must now report electronically via the e-Građani system. Foreign workers, in turn, must notify the Croatian Employment Service within five days of contract termination, and refusal of a job offered by the Service will result in loss of the permit. The deadline for registering a foreign worker’s residence will be extended from three to 15 days. Employers must also demonstrate a higher minimum financial inflow—€100,000 for legal entities and €40,000 for sole traders—and cannot have a blocked bank account for more than 30 days.

To obtain a positive opinion from the Croatian Employment Service for hiring foreign workers, employers must now meet stricter ratios: at least 10 percent of employees must be Croatian citizens or nationals of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, working full-time, relative to the number of third-country nationals employed. Oversight of accommodation provided to seasonal workers will also be clarified under the authority of the State Inspectorate.

Recent statistics highlight the impact of these evolving policies. In the first nine months of 2025, Croatia issued 136,194 residence and work permits, compared to 158,837 in the same period the previous year—a slight decline following earlier amendments to the law. The government maintains that the latest reforms are designed to strike a balance between economic demand, social integration, and legal certainty, positioning Croatia within the evolving European migration framework.

While the Croatian reforms may present new hurdles for foreign workers, proponents argue that they are necessary to ensure effective integration and maintain a sustainable workforce. Critics, however, warn that stricter language requirements and administrative hurdles could discourage much-needed labor and complicate the lives of those already contributing to the Croatian economy.

In contrast, the Ghanaian conference’s call for volunteers reflects a more collaborative ethos—one that views linguistic diversity as an asset to be celebrated and shared. As Europe tightens its approach to migration and integration, other regions are doubling down on the opportunities that language and cultural exchange can provide.

Whether through regulatory reform or grassroots collaboration, the coming year promises to be a pivotal one for language policy and migration in Europe and beyond, as communities and governments alike seek new ways to balance economic necessity, social cohesion, and the rich tapestry of global languages.