Regional or minority languages: experts to visit Switzerland
A delegation of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is to visit Switzerland from 14 to 16 February 2007, as part of its monitoring activities on the country's implementation of the treaty. The visit follows the submission by Switzerland of its third periodical report, where the government explains how it has responded to the recommendations adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe during the second monitoring round, and how it has fulfilled its obligations in respect of the Charter.
During its visit to Savognin, Chur and Bern, the delegation will meet representatives of the Romansh, Italian, Yenish and Walser languages, including NGOs, politicians, journalists, educationalists, as well as representatives of local and regional authorities, and of the national government.
On the basis of the information gathered, the Committee will prepare its third evaluation report, if necessary proposing recommendations to be made to the Swiss authorities on how the Charter can be better implemented.
The text of the second evaluation report can be downloaded here.
Further information on the Charter can be found on the Charter's website http://www.coe.int/minlang, or by contacting 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).
