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Press release

Council of Europe publishes report on minority languages in the Czech Republic

09.12.2009: The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers has today made public the first report on the situation of minority languages in the Czech Republic. This report has been drawn up by a committee of independent experts which monitors the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

On the basis of the report, the Committee of Ministers calls on the Czech Republic to promote awareness and tolerance vis-à-vis the regional or minority languages as an integral part of the cultural heritage of the Czech Republic, both in the general curriculum at all stages of education and in the media.

The Czech Republic should also adopt a structured policy for the protection and promotion of Romani and German, and create favourable conditions for their use in public life. It needs to ensure that speaking Romani at school is not prohibited or discouraged.

Furthermore, the Czech Republic should improve legislation concerning the composition and powers of committees for national minorities, so that these rules do not present barriers to the implementation of the Charter; including

- the creation of regional or minority language schools and
- the use of Polish place names in topographical signs.

Finally, the Committee of Ministers calls on the Czech Republic to take measures to make available teaching in or of Slovak, Romani and German, in co-operation with the speakers.

The regional or minority languages protected under the Charter in the Czech Republic are Polish, Slovak, German and Romani.

Full text of the report and the Committee of Ministers’ recommendations

Further information can also be found on the Charter's website, or by contacting the Charter Secretariat (minlang.secretariat@coe.int – Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 31 86).