Despite progress made, further measures are needed by Denmark to promote German as a minority language covered by the European Charter for regional or minority languages, also outside of the South Jutland/North Schleswig region according to a new report.
The charter, which entered into force in Denmark in 2001, applies only to the German language in Denmark as it is the only traditional minority language in that country. The current report of the committee of experts evaluates progress on the “recommendations for immediate action” made in its 2023 evaluation report.
The committee of experts welcomes that the contact committee for the German minority has been changed to a full-fledged parliamentary committee and believes that it can provide for a structured and more effective consultation platform between the Danish Government, the Parliament and the German-speaking minority.
The committee of experts also commends the regular support, especially the important financial assistance to speakers of German, including significant allocations for the Campus Apenrade project. It regrets, however, that this support continues to be targeted at the Danish-German border region and not throughout the whole territory of Denmark.
Culture of the German national minority should be taught in Denmark
Aiming at implementing this specific recommendation for immediate action, the committee of experts calls on Denmark to develop, in cooperation with language speakers, a new common objective in the subject of German that incorporates the teaching of German as a minority language with a focus on the history and culture of the German national minority. In addition, the committee of experts believes that the history and culture of national minorities could be integrated in the subject of History.
Moreover, the committee of experts reiterates that in the framework of awareness raising, media should be encouraged, without prejudice to their independence, to pay more attention to minority languages as integral parts of Denmark’s history and culture. Measures, such as airtime dedicated to the German minority on public radio or television and support for print media for similar initiatives to raise awareness of the German as a minority language could be envisaged.
The European Charter for regional or minority languages is the Council of Europe’s convention designed to protect and promote states parties’ traditional regional or minority languages and enable speakers of these languages to use them in both private and public life. Its implementation is monitored by an independent committee of experts. The treaty entered into force on 1 March 1998 and is now in force in 25 states.
The European Charter for regional or minority languages and Denmark
European Charter for regional or minority languages
