This is the third visit of the Advisory Committee to the Czech Republic. The Delegation will have meetings with the representatives of all relevant ministries, public officials, NGOs, as well as national minority organisations.

The Delegation includes Ms. Lidija BASTA-FLEINER (member of the Advisory Committee elected in respect of Serbia), Ms Anastasia CRICKLEY (member of the Advisory Committee elected in respect of Ireland), Ms Milena KLAJNER (member of the Advisory Committee elected in respect of Croatia), and Mr Krzysztof ZYMAN, of the Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Note: The Czech Republic submitted its third State Report under the Framework Convention in May 2010. Following its visit, the Advisory Committee will adopt its own report (called Opinion), which will be sent to the Government for comments. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will then adopt conclusions and recommendations in respect of the Czech Republic.

The Opinion on "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" was adopted on 30 March, the opinions on Denmark and Slovenia were adopted on 31 March, and the opinion on Estonia was adopted on 1 April. They are restricted for the time-being. These four opinions will now be submitted to the Committee of Ministers, which is to adopt conclusions and recommendations.

Declare elected to the list of experts eligible to serve on the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities on 16 March 2011:

Dr Tove H. Malloy, in respect of Denmark."

This is the third visit of the Advisory Committee to Austria. The Delegation will have meetings with the representatives of all relevant ministries, public officials, NGOs, as well as national minority organisations.

The Delegation includes Ms Edita ZIOBIENE (member of the Advisory Committee elected in respect of Lithuania), Mr Gjergj SINANI (member of the Advisory Committee elected in respect of Albania), Ms. Marieke SANDERS-TEN HOLTE (member of the Advisory Committee elected in respect of  the Netherlands), and Ms Charlotte ALTENHOENER-DION of the Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Note: Austria submitted its third State Report under the Framework Convention in August 2010. Following its visit, the Advisory Committee will adopt its own report (called Opinion), which will be sent to the Government for comments. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will then adopt conclusions and recommendations in respect of Austria.

This is the third visit of the Advisory Committee to the United Kingdom. The Delegation will have meetings with the representatives of all relevant ministries, public officials, NGOs, as well as national minority organisations.

The Delegation includes Ms Lidija BASTA FLEINER (member of the Advisory Committee elected in respect of Serbia and First Vice-President of the Advisory Committee), Ms Aleksandra BOJADJIEVA (member of the Advisory Committee elected in respect of "the former Yugoslav Republic of  Macedonia", Ms Françoise KEMPF and Mr. Niall SHEERIN of the Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Note: The United Kingdom submitted its third State Report under the Framework Convention in March 2010. Following its visit, the Advisory Committee will adopt its own report (called Opinion), which will be sent to the Government for comments. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will then adopt conclusions and recommendations in respect of the United Kingdom.

"Declare elected to the list of experts eligible to serve on the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities on 9 February 2011:

            Ms Iivi Anna MASSO, in respect of Estonia."

"Appointed as ordinary member of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities for a term which will commence on 12 January 2011 and expire on 31 May 2012:

Ms Olga BUTKEVYCH in respect of Ukraine."

"Declare elected to the list of experts eligible to serve on the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities on 12 January 2011:

            Mr Yiannakis CHRYSOSTOMIS, in respect of Cyprus."

The Slovak Republic should adopt more comprehensive legislation on minority languages in order to ensure an appropriate balance between the promotion of the State language and the right to use minority languages. Further action is needed to prevent discrimination, in particular in relation to Roma and efforts must be made to eliminate discrimination and segregation of Roma in the field of education. These are the key recommendations of the third Opinion on the Slovak Republic of the Council of Europe Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, which was published today, together with the government’s Comments.

In its Opinion the Advisory Committee concludes that:

In recent years the Slovak authorities have developed further legislation for protecting national minorities, for example by amending the Anti-Discrimination Law, which provides a clear legal basis for protection against discrimination, including the possibility to devise positive measures. Support has been allocated to national minority organisations for preserving and developing their cultures, although the procedure for distributing funds needs to be improved.

Negative attitudes against persons belonging to certain groups such as the Roma continue to be reported. Resolute measures are needed to fight intolerance based on ethnic origin, such as effective sanctioning of discrimination, the application of positive measures and awareness-raising of discrimination-related issues in society.

Many Roma face discrimination in employment, access to housing and healthcare. A considerable number of Roma children are still placed in ‘special’ schools for pupils with learning difficulties. Authorities should ensure that appropriate measures are adopted to help integrate Roma children into mainstream education.

The State Language Law, which has been amended to reinforce the use of Slovak should strike the adequate balance between the legitimate promotion of the state language and the right to use minority languages in private and public life. The Committee is concerned about some aspects of the law, such as the imposition of fines in case of violations of the law, which are not in line with the Framework Convention.

There have been improvements in the field of minority language education, in particular the creation of textbooks in minority languages, the training of teachers and increased financial allocations to minority schools. However, there seems to be a decreasing interest in minority language learning amongst the Bulgarian, Croat, German, Ruthenian, Polish and Ukrainian minorities. Efforts should be made to provide children belonging to minorities in schools with instruction in Slovak with opportunities to learn their minority language.

Persons belonging to national minorities are generally well-represented in elected bodies, especially at the local level. However the participation of the Roma in Parliament is very low. The employment of persons belonging to national minorities in the public administration and law-enforcement agencies is limited and should be increased.

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In the Slovak Republic, 12 groups are represented in the Consultative Council and are officially recognised as national minorities.

The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities provides for a monitoring system whereby the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, assisted by the Advisory Committee, composed of independent experts, evaluates the implementation of the convention. For more information: http://www.coe.int/minorities