Serbia - Strengthening the protection of national minorities

Back Protection of national minority rights beneficial for Serbian society

The Council of Europe and the European Union will continue to support protection and promotion of national minority rights in Serbia as it is beneficial for Serbian society, but it also largely contributes to the EU accession path of the country. This was one of the conclusions of today’s presentation of the Expert report of the existing models of minority language education in Serbia, organised by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and the joint EU and Council of Europe project “Strengthening the protection of national minorities in Serbia”.

Anamarija Viček, State Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development stressed in her introductory remarks the importance of this independent expert report for the improvement of minority language education models in Serbia as well as the fulfilment of one of the activities stemming from the Action plan for the realisation of rights of national minorities.

“This report contributes to the new report on the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in the Republic of Serbia and the recommendations to the Serbian authorities published in April 2019. Progress made in the training of teachers for minority language education has been welcomed. Furthermore, education with the minority language as the main medium of instruction works very well and leads to good results”, said Tobias Flessenkemper, Head of Council of Europe office in Belgrade.

The Expert report of the existing models of minority language education in Serbia and other states with recommendations for amending existing models of minority language education was prepared by Ms Claudine Brohy from the University of Fribourg/Freiburg, Switzerland and Member of the Council of Europe Committee of Experts for the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

The presentation was attended by representatives of state institutions, national councils of national minorities and international organisations.

This presentation was organised within the action “Strengthening the protection of national minorities in Serbia”, which is part of the programme "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey", co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.

Belgrade 10/05/2019

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“Strengthening the protection of national minorities in Serbia” will support the authorities in enhancing the rights of persons belonging to national minorities in Serbia, by addressing the legislation, policy and practice in particular fields.

Expert advice will be provided in respect of amending the Law on the National Councils of National Minorities. In addition, steps to raise awareness about national minorities and promote tolerance will be taken. Finally, the Action will seek to promote the use of minority languages in education, public administration and courts, by addressing both the authorities and the national minorities themselves.

The project started on 1 November 2016 and wascompleted on 30 June 2018, has an overall budget of 400,000 Euros. It is funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, under the "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey", and is implemented by the Council of Europe.

objectives

Improve the legal framework concerning the National Councils of National Minorities;
Raise awareness about national minorities, their rights and promote tolerance;
Strengthen minority languages in education;
Enhance the use of minority languages in public administration and courts.

expected results

Enhanced expertise with a view to amending the Law on the National Councils of National Minorities;
Enhanced capacity of the authorities to ensure an appropriate presentation of national minorities in education;
Increased knowledge of the general public on national minorities in Serbia;
Increased knowledge about the role and functioning of the Councils for Inter-Ethnic Relations among local authorities;
Enhanced capacity of the authorities to improve the minority language education system;
Strengthened capacity of the authorities to provide for the use of minority languages in public administration and the courts;
Increased knowledge of persons belonging to national minorities about their rights and the opportunities for use of their language in education, administration and courts.