The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages entered into force in Sweden in 2000. In its eighth evaluation report on Sweden, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts notes that the Swedish authorities have increased the financial support designated for the protection of the regional and minority languages protected by the Charter, (Sami, Finnish, Meänkieli, Romani Chib and Yiddish). However, the Committee also defines clearly the deficiencies in the implementation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
The Committee of Experts calls on Sweden, as a matter of priority, to include language as a ground for discrimination in the legislation, ensure that “mother tongue” education offers adequate language tuition and increase the amount of bilingual education available in Finnish and Sami. Bilingual education in Meänkieli should also be ensured. In preschool education, all relevant municipalities should improve the offer in minority languages. In addition, the authorities are urged to increase the system of teacher training and to adapt it to the situation of each of the minority languages.
The eighth evaluation report of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is based on the information provided by governmental and non-governmental sources, including that obtained during its visit to Sweden on 17-20 May 2022. The evaluation report has been published together with comments from the authorities.
The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and Sweden
