News about the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

Sweden: visit of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
A delegation of the Committee of Experts is carrying out a visit to Sweden from 17-20 May 2022 to evaluate progress made in the protection and promotion of regional and minority languages. It is having meetings in Luleå and Stockholm with the representatives of the regional or minority languages...
Switzerland: visit of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
A delegation of the Committee of Experts (COMEX) of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and a delegation of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and are carrying out a coordinated visit to Switzerland this week (2-6 May...
Committee of Experts publishes a statement on the promotion of regional or minority languages through artificial intelligence
On 16 March 2022, during its 72nd plenary meeting, the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages adopted a statement on the promotion of regional or minority languages through artificial intelligence (AI). In this statement, the Committee of Experts notes...
Germany: visit of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
A delegation of the Committee of Experts visited Germany from 28 March - 1 April 2022 to evaluate progress made in the protection and promotion of regional and minority languages. It held meetings with the representatives of the regional or minority languages speakers and of the authorities in...
Croatia should remedy gaps in minority language use
While acknowledging efforts of the Croatian authorities to comply with the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, a report published today reiterates “recommendations for immediate action” to improve the use of minority languages. The report, adopted last week by the Council of...
COMEX held its 72nd plenary meeting
The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages held its 72nd plenary meeting from 15 to 17 March 2022 in a hybrid format (Strasbourg/online). During the meeting the Committee adopted its evaluation report on the application of the Charter by Bosnia and...
The Russian Federation is excluded from the Council of Europe
In an extraordinary meeting this morning, the Committee of Ministers decided, in the context of the procedure launched under Article 8 of the Statute of the Council of Europe, that the Russian Federation ceases to be a member of the Council of Europe as from today, after 26 years of membership....
France: Local charters for the promotion of the Basque language signed
On 11 March 2022, the mayors of 49 municipalities of the Communauté d'Agglomération du Pays Basque (France) signed charters for the promotion of the Basque language in Itxassou/Itsasu. A local version of the Council of Europe's European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, it marks the...
Norway: Further improvement needed to revitalise and develop the most endangered minority languages
In a new evaluation report, the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, recommends as a matter of priority, that the Norwegian authorities improve the means for revitalisation and development of the most endangered minority languages; Kven, Lule Sámi and...
Poland: Committee of Experts concerned about decisions affecting German language in education
The Committee of Experts has taken note with concern of the recent reduction of the subsidy for regional or minority language education in Poland and the subsequent decrease of the number of hours for minority language teaching targeting German. The teaching of German as a minority language has...
Poland: Further measures needed to implement the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
Since having entered into force in Poland in 2009, the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages applies to the following languages: Armenian, Belarusian, Czech, German, Karaim, Kashub, Lemko, Lithuanian, Romani, Russian, Slovak, Tatar, Ukrainian and Yiddish. In a new report the...
Cyprus: Progress on Armenian and Cypriot Maronite Arabic languages, but room for improvement, say minority languages experts
State authorities in Cyprus continue to support minority language speakers by funding existing cultural institutions and establishing new sports facilities where their languages can be used, according to a new report by the Committee of Experts for the European Charter for Regional or Minority...
National minorities and minority languages on the agenda of the 4th plenary meeting of the Council of Europe Steering Committee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion - CDADI
Strasbourg, 8 December 2021: The President of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Marie B. Hagsgård, and the Chair of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, Vesna Crnić-Grotić, addressed today...
COMEX 71st plenary meeting and election of the new bureau
The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages held its 71st plenary meeting from 16 to 19 November 2021 in a hybrid format (Strasbourg/online). During the meeting the Committee of Experts adopted its evaluation reports on the application of the Charter by...
Norway protects two additional languages under Part III of the Charter: Lule Sami and South Sami
On 14 October 2021, Norway notified the Council of Europe that it will apply Part III of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages to the Lule Sami language and the South Sami language as of that date, in respect of the territory for which the Kingdom of Norway is responsible for...
COMEX held its 70th plenary meeting
The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages held its 70th plenary meeting from 29 September to 1 October 2021 in a hybrid format (Strasbourg/online). Having resumed its monitoring visits in June, the Committee of Experts adopted its evaluation reports on...
European Day of Languages (26 September)
On the occasion of the European Day of Languages (26 September), Vesna Crnić-Grotić, Chair of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, delivered a pre-recorded message at an event organised by NPLD. She recalled that communication and education in...
Portugal signs the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
On 7 September 2021, the Permanent Representative of Portugal to the Council of Europe, in the presence of the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, signed the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in Strasbourg. The signing is to be followed by Portugal’s ratification...
Coming soon: Conference on the role of NGOs and research institutions in promoting national minority rights on 7 September 2021
Budapest: In the framework of the Hungarian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, Hungary and the Council of Europe are organising a conference on “The role of NGOs and research institutions in promoting Council of Europe norms and standards on national minority rights” to be held on 7...
Norway: visit of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
A delegation of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and a delegation of the Committee of Experts (COMEX) of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages are carrying out a coordinated visit to Norway this week (23-27 August 2021)...