Back Have peoples voice heard on how to improve the use of official languages at local level

Have peoples voice heard on how to improve the use of official languages at local level

Over the past weeks, Council of Europe Office in Pristina, has been supporting our partners — the Ministry of Local Government Administration, the Office of the Language Commissioner, and the Ombudsperson Institution — holding a series of seven regional meetings focused on one key issue: the implementation of the Law on the Use of Official Languages and Languages in Official Use.

The meetings took place in the regions of Ferizaj/Uroševac on April 3, Prizren on April 8, Gjakova/Gjakovica on April 10, Gjilan/Gnjilane on April 15, Mitrovicë/Mitrovica on April 16, Peja/Peć on April 17, and Prishtinë/Priština on April 22. A total of 33 municipalities participated in these important discussions, which were organised under the Council of Europe's project “Fostering Societal Cohesion by Reinforcing Minority Rights and Minority Languages.”

This collaborative effort was vital for promoting linguistic diversity and addressing the recommendations stemming from the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and its 5th Opinion urging the authorities to take all necessary measures to improve implementation of the Law on the Use of Languages.

Mary Ann Hennessey, Head of Council of Europe in Pristina, invited the authorities to allocate sufficient resources to ensure the efficiency and quality of translations. “This includes in particular strengthening translation capacities, recruiting and training bilingual and multilingual staff, as well as distributing resources and guidelines to municipalities to improve the fulfillment of their functions in this regard“, Hennessey said during the final meeting, held in Pristina.

These discussions weren’t just theoretical — they were about practical change. Local governments play a crucial role in ensuring that language rights aren’t just guaranteed by law, but actually respected on the ground.

The meetings enabled municipal representatives, language policy network members, and institutional partners to address some of the most pressing challenges such as the publication of official documents in all official languages on municipal websites, the availability of translators, the proper display of inscriptions in the public spaces, and the need to strengthen coordination between the central and the local level.

The Council of Europe will prepare a report with recommendations to be translated into concrete actions for the support of relevant institutions in charge of the implementation of the law.

April 2025
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Goal

The proposal aims to foster reconciliation and societal cohesion at different levels of society allowing for rights-holders from minority groups to better enjoy their rights. This will be achieved by ensuring the implementation of the recommendations of the Advisory Committee of the FCNM, notably those contained in its Fifth Opinion on Kosovo*, and of the Committee of Ministers’ Resolution CM/ResCMN(2023)12 on the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Kosovo and the integration of relevant European standards, including the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, in the work of the institutions.

The project started on 1 July 2024 and will be implemented until 30 June 2026.

What is the goal and objective of the project?

Main goal of the project is enhancing implementation of the relevant legal framework on national minorities, in line with European standards.

By doing this, it will raise awareness on the rights of national minorities and foster reconciliation and societal cohesion at different levels of society, enabling minority rights-holders to better exercise their rights.

How does the project work?

The project will work at different levels, with activities addressed at central and local institutions, civil society organisations, youth and religious leadership, and the media.

This will include, among others: assisting the Technical Working Group in charge of the Co-ordination of the Implementation of the Recommendations for the Framework Convention; training law enforcement officials to address hate crimes based on ethnic or religious grounds; supporting the development of training modules based on Council of Europe minority standards and their rolling in the higher education sector; enhancing the use of official languages in municipalities; local initiatives addressing youth, civil society and local authorities to raise awareness on the daily impact of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities on their lives; micro-grants to minority media.

What do we expect to achieve?

Working with institutions in charge of minority issues at national and local level, the project will integrate the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) standards in their daily work.

By cooperating with public administration and the higher education sectors, the project will enhance the use of minority languages in these two domains, in line with European standards, in particular the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Through a series of targeted initiatives, the project will raise institutional and societal awareness on the rights of national minorities and relevant European standards.

*All reference to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.

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Project at a glance

Duration: 24 months (July 2024 - June 2026)

Beneficiaries :
► All citizens and communities, particularly ethnic or linguistic minorities communities.
► Civil society organisations engaged in promoting and protecting human rights.

Funding: Council of Europe Action Plan for Kosovo* 2022-2025.

Budget: 700.000 EUR.

Project team

Betim Zllanoga, Senior Project Officer, Pristina
Lindita Hoti-Shala, Project Assistant, Pristina

 Contact us

 Council of Europe Office in Pristina

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