News about the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

Norway: First coordinated follow-up event
Oslo, 24 November 2022: A follow-up event on the Fifth Opinion on Norway of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) as well as the latest report of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
COMEX held its 74th plenary meeting
The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages held its 74th plenary meeting from 15 to 18 November 2022 in Strasbourg. During the meeting, the Committee adopted three evaluation reports on the application of the Charter by Sweden, the Netherlands and...
The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages celebrates its 30th anniversary - statement by the Bureau of the Committee of Experts
On 5 November 1992, eleven member states of the Council of Europe signed the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in Strasbourg, considering that the preservation and development of Europe's cultural traditions and wealth depended on the protection of its regional or minority...
Serbia: visit of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
A delegation of the Committee of Experts visited Serbia from 24-28 October 2022 to evaluate progress made in the protection and promotion of regional and minority languages. It holds meetings with the representatives of the regional or minority languages speakers and of the authorities in Novi...
Austria: visit 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
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 carried out a coordinated visit to the Austria from 18-21 October 2022 to...
The Council of Europe publishes a report on minority languages in Switzerland
Strasbourg, 28.09.2022 – In a report on Switzerland published today, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML) recommends as a priority that the authorities adopt cantonal and/or local legislation on the use of the French...
European Day of Languages (26 September): Promoting linguistic diversity in times of digital change
In a speech given today at the roundtable ”Shaping the Future of Linguistic Diversity: Digitalization and Youth”, organised in Brussels by the Network to Promote Linguistic Diversity (NPLD) on the occasion of the European Day of Languages, Jarmo Lainio, first vice-chair of the Committee of...
Minority languages in Germany: A need to increase teacher training, media content and use in courts and administration, among other points in new report
Strasbourg, 15.09.2022 – While some minority or regional languages in Germany have received extra protection and increased bilingual signage is welcomed, more teacher training, increased instruction and more use of these languages in courts, administration and media are needed, according to the...
Netherlands: visit 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
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 carried out a coordinated visit to the Netherlands from 28 June – 1 July...
COMEX held its 73rd plenary meeting
16 June 2022 COMEX held its 73rd plenary meeting The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages held its 73rd plenary meeting from 13 to 15 June 2022 in a hybrid format (Strasbourg/online). The Committee adopted a statement condemning in the strongest possible...
Statement by the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages on Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine
15 June 2022 The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages condemns in the strongest possible terms the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. It expresses its deep concern and its solidarity with all people of Ukraine. The Committee of Experts...
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Lack of co-ordination continues to hamper protection of regional and minority languages
In its third evaluation report on Bosnia and Herzegovina the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts states that a clearly detectable lack of co-ordination among multiple levels of authority continues to hamper the implementation of the European Charter for Regional and 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 carried 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...


Secretariat of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
Directorate of Anti-Discrimination
DGII Democracy
Council of Europe
Agora Building, 1 quai Jacoutot
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France
Tel: +33 (0)3 90 21 49 36