News about the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
COMEX meets for its 63rd plenary
The Committee of Experts met this week for its 63rd plenary session. On the agenda this week, amongst other things, the COMEX held an exchange with Ms Irmgarda Kasinskaite Buddeberg, Programme Specialist from the Knowledge Societies Division in the Communication and Information Sector of UNESCO,...
Reform enters into force
The reform of the monitoring mechanism of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, adpoted on 28 November 2018 by the Ministers' Deputies, with a view to strengthening it, entered into force today, 1 July 2019. To read more about the reform, please follow this link.
Bilingual teaching improves, but use of minority languages needs expanding
CM adopts report on Hungary
In its latest report, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages says that participation and representation of the Nationalities (national minorities) in Hungary is exemplary, including in the Hungarian Parliament, and the protection...
Funding for cultural activities related to minority languages improved, but further efforts needed in other areas
Report on Czech Republic adopted by CM
In its fourth report on the Czech Republic, the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of the Council of Europe notes that the Czech Republic has made progress in implementing its commitments under the Charter, but also draws attention to some important...
70 years of advocacy for minority rights in Europe
The last Congress of FUEN, the Federal Union of European Nationalities, held in Bratislava in the Slovak Republic, from 12 to 14 June 2019, was the occasion to celebrate the 70th anniversary of this non-governmental organisation established in conjunction with the creation of the Council of...
COMEX Chair addresses GR-J
Ms Vesna Crnic-Grotic was in Strasbourg on Thursday 13 June to meet the Group of Rapporteurs on Legal Co-Operation (GR-J). She addressed the GR-J on the reform of the monitoring mechanism which will come into force on 1 July 2019 and on the challenges which lie ahead, before taking part in an...
Looking for good practices relating to regional and minority languages in Europe deadline extended until 30 September 2019
The Secretariat is looking for good practices relating to regional and minority languages, which have been implemented in the last three, maximum five years. The main aim is to collect examples of practices that can serve as models for knowledge transfer across Europe. Examples related to the...
Impressions on minorities and minority languages in a changing Europe
The conclusions and impressions of the 20th anniversary conference of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages are now available in the form of a brochure. The leaflet features the conclusions and final remarks...
Serbia: minority language education should be strengthened
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe published a new report on the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML) in the Republic of Serbia and the recommendations to the Serbian authorities. The Charter applies to Albanian, Bosnian, Bulgarian,...
Committee of Experts meets in plenary
The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is meeting in Strasbourg, France, for its 62nd plenary session during the week of 18-22 March 2019. Among other things, it will discuss the the evaluation reports on the application of the Charter in Luxembourg,...
Chairs of Monitoring Bodies meet SG
At the start of February, the Chairs of the Council of Europe's monitoring and advisory bodies met with the Secretary General to exchange on work done and to look into further cooperation, followed by a working lunch in the Blue Restaurant.
Education of regional and minority languages needs improvement and their use in certain fields should be strengthened, expert group reports
Germany: evaluation report published
In its sixth report on Germany, the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages praises steps taken to protect and promote regional or minority languages (Danish, Lower Sorbian, Upper Sorbian, North Frisian, Sater Frisian, Low German and Romani), including...
Conference celebrating 100th anniversary of the Royal Academy of the Basque Language
Mr Sixto Molina, Head of the Secretariat of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, participated in the conference “Tutelar las Lenguas Minorizadas”, organised by Euskalzaindia on 17-18 January 2019 in Pamplona, Spain, in the framework of the 100th anniversary of the Royal...
Experts in Spain for monitoring visit
A delegation of experts from the Charter's Committee of Experts visited Spain from 10-14 December in the framework of the 5th cycle of monitoring of the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages by Spain.
Georgia: workshop for minority language media
On 27 November 2018, a workshop for minority language media in Tbilisi was organised. The event gathered representatives of newspapers, TV stations, radios and news portals publishing and broadcasting in Georgia in minority languages, such as Armenian, Azerbaijani, German and Russian. Council of...
Ladin language meeting
On 19 November, an exchange took place in the Council of Europe premises between experts Mr Fernando Ramallo and Ms Claudine Brohy, of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, and professors from Italy dealing with the Ladin language. The main objective...
Sweden: Follow-up dialogue
On 13 November, members of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, together with the Swedish Ministry of Culture, organised a seminar to discuss the two...
Moldovan capital inaugurates signage in minority languages
On 13 November, the Mayor of Chişinău and representatives of the Council of Europe, the EU, the Moldovan authorities and national minorities inaugurated the city’s new multilingual pedestrian signage. Chişinău is one of the Republic of Moldova’s pilot municipalities for the application of the...
Ireland: experts & officials meet
Prof. Dr Vesna Crnic-Grotic and Dr Aleksandra Oszmianska-Pagett, representing the Bureau of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, alongside Mr Sixto Molina, Head of the Secretariat of the Charter, participated on Friday in an exchange organised by...
Finland: minority language awareness in education and media needs to be improved
While the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages acknowledges the efforts undertaken by the authorities in protecting regional and minority languages spoken in Finland, it recommends that further measure are needed, according to a report published today....
Text of the Charter
