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The European Charter for regional and minority languages: application by Germany examined

Strasbourg, 02/03/2006: The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has just adopted a recommendation for the attention of the German authorities on measures they could take to improve the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in Germany.

These measures include: adopting, where necessary, legal provisions to ensure the practical implementation of Germany's undertakings for the Charter; addressing the specific needs for providing education in each of Germany's regional or minority languages; and taking resolute action to make it possible to use regional or minority languages in dealings with the administration. The German authorities are also encouraged to create incentives for private broadcasting in regional or minority languages.

The recommendation follows the second evaluation report prepared by the Charter's independent Committee of Experts, using information submitted by Germany and by NGOs, and obtained during an on-the-spot visit by the Committee of Experts to Germany, when meetings were held with representatives of the regional or minority languages spoken in Germany, including representatives of NGOs, as well as representatives of Land authorities and of the Federal Government.

For further information on the Charter and its monitoring mechanism, click here, or contact the Charter Secretariat at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg (Directorate of Co-operation for Local and Regional Democracy, DG I - Legal Affairs, F-67075 Strasbourg, tel: +33 (0)3 90 21 52 77).

Report and recommendation on the application of the Charter in Germany.