Guardians of Linguistic Heritage
An authoritative exploration of the Council of Europe's commitment to preserving Europe's diverse linguistic tapestry.
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The European Charter
Foundational Treaty
The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML), designated as CETS 148, is a significant European treaty adopted in 1992 under the auspices of the Council of Europe. Its primary objective is to protect and promote the historical regional and minority languages spoken within Europe.
Definition and Scope
Crucially, the Charter does not provide a definitive, universally applicable criterion for classifying a language as "regional" or "minority." This classification remains largely within the purview of individual national states. The Charter applies to languages traditionally used by nationals of the State Parties, distinguishing them from languages of recent immigrants. It also excludes idioms considered mere local dialects of the official or majority language, though this distinction is also subject to state interpretation.
Collaborative Development
The preparatory work for the Charter was significantly influenced by the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, emphasizing the essential role of local and regional governmental bodies in language policy. The final text was shaped within the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, building upon the Congress's recommendations.
Protective Frameworks
Part II: Core Principles
Part II of the Charter outlines eight fundamental principles and objectives that guide State Parties in their policies and legislation concerning regional or minority languages. These principles serve as the foundational framework for language preservation and promotion, emphasizing:
- Recognition of these languages as integral to Europe's cultural heritage.
- Respect for the geographical areas where these languages are traditionally spoken.
- Commitment to resolute action for their promotion.
- Facilitation and encouragement of their use in both public and private spheres.
- Provision of appropriate educational opportunities for their study at all levels.
- Promotion of relevant transnational exchanges.
- Prohibition of discriminatory practices that hinder language maintenance.
- Fostering mutual understanding among the nation's linguistic groups.
Part III: Specific Undertakings
Part III details comprehensive, sector-specific commitments that States must undertake for each language they choose to protect under this part. States must select a minimum of thirty-five specific undertakings, with options for varying degrees of stringency tailored to the language's specific situation. These commitments span critical areas such as:
- Education
- Judicial Authorities
- Administrative Authorities and Public Services
- Media
- Cultural Activities and Facilities
- Economic and Social Life
- Transfrontier Exchanges
Monitoring and Recommendations
The Charter's compliance mechanism is proactive rather than reactive. It relies on a regular monitoring process conducted by a Committee of Experts. This committee evaluates the situation in State Parties and provides formal feedback and recommendations, fostering continuous improvement in language protection efforts.
Charter Provisions
Part II: Guiding Principles
Part II establishes the fundamental principles that State Parties must adhere to. These include recognizing regional or minority languages as a vital expression of cultural wealth, respecting their traditional geographical areas, and actively promoting their use in speech and writing. It also mandates the facilitation of teaching and study, the prohibition of discrimination, and the promotion of inter-group understanding.
Part III: Actionable Commitments
Part III requires states to select specific undertakings across various domains for each language they wish to protect. These commitments are detailed and cover areas like education, judicial and administrative services, media, cultural activities, economic and social life, and transfrontier exchanges. The flexibility in choosing undertakings allows for adaptation to the unique circumstances of each language.
Languages Protected
Ratification Overview
The following table details the countries that have ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, along with the specific languages for which ratification was made and any relevant notes regarding their status or the application of the Charter's parts.
| Country | Ratification | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 January 2002 | Assyrian | Part II and III | |
| German | Part II | ||
| Greek | Part II and III | ||
| Kurdish | Part II and III | ||
| Russian | Part II and III | ||
| Ukrainian | Part II | ||
| Yezidi | Part II and III | ||
| 28 June 2001 | Burgenland Croatian | (in Burgenland) | |
| Czech | (in Vienna) | ||
| Hungarian | (in Burgenland and Vienna) | ||
| Romani | (in Burgenland) | ||
| Slovak | (in Vienna) | ||
| Slovene | (in Carinthia and Styria) | ||
| 21 September 2010 | Albanian | Part II and III | |
| Czech | Part II and III | ||
| German | Part II and III | ||
| Hungarian | Part II and III | ||
| Italian | Part II and III | ||
| Ladino (language) | Part II and III | ||
| Polish | Part II and III | ||
| Romani | Part II and III | ||
| Romanian | Part II and III | ||
| Rusyn (as Ruthenian) | Part II and III | ||
| Slovak | Part II and III | ||
| Slovenian | Part II and III | ||
| Turkish | Part II and III | ||
| Ukrainian | Part II and III | ||
| Yiddish | Part II and III | ||
| 5 November 1997 | Czech | ||
| German | |||
| Hungarian | |||
| Boyash Romanian | |||
| Istro-Romanian | |||
| Italian | |||
| Romani | |||
| Rusyn (as Ruthenian) | |||
| Serbian | |||
| Slovakian | |||
| Slovenian | |||
| Ukrainian | |||
| 26 August 2002 | Armenian | Part II (Article 7.5) | |
| Cypriot Maronite Arabic | Part II (Article 7) | ||
| 15 November 2006 | Moravian Croatian | (part II only) | |
| German | (part II and part III in districts Cheb, Karlovy Vary, Sokolov, Liberec, Ústí nad Labem, Český Krumlov, Opava and Svitavy) | ||
| Polish | (part II; and part III in Moravia-Silesia, in districts Frydek-Místek and Karviná) | ||
| Romani | (part II only) | ||
| Slovak | (parts II and III, across the whole territory) | ||
| 8 September 2000 | German | (in Southern Jutland) | |
| 9 November 1994 | Inari Sami | ||
| Karelian | |||
| North Sami | |||
| Romani | |||
| Russian | |||
| Skolt Sami | |||
| Swedish | |||
| Tatar | |||
| Yiddish | |||
| 16 September 1998 | Danish | (in Schleswig-Holstein) | |
| Low German | (part III in Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein); (part II in Brandenburg, Northrhine-Westphalia and Saxony-Anhalt) | ||
| Lower Sorbian | (in Brandenburg) | ||
| North Frisian | (in Schleswig-Holstein) | ||
| Romani | (across Germany) | ||
| Saterland Frisian | (in Lower Saxony) | ||
| Upper Sorbian | (in the Free State of Saxony) | ||
| 26 April 1995 | Armenian | ||
| Boyash Romanian | |||
| Bulgarian | |||
| Croatian | |||
| German | |||
| Greek | |||
| Polish | |||
| Romani | |||
| Romanian | |||
| Rusyn (as Ruthenian) | |||
| Serbian | |||
| Slovak | |||
| Slovene | |||
| Ukrainian | |||
| 18 November 1997 | No regional or minority languages | ||
| 22 June 2005 | No regional or minority languages | ||
| 15 February 2006 | Albanian | ||
| Bosnian | |||
| Croatian | |||
| Romani | |||
| 2 May 1996 | Frisian | (in Friesland, under part III) | |
| Limburgish | (in Limburg, under part II) | ||
| Low Saxon | (across the Netherlands, under part II) | ||
| Papiamento | (on Bonaire under part III) | ||
| Romani | (across the Netherlands, under part II) | ||
| Yiddish | (across the Netherlands, under part II) | ||
| 10 November 1993 | Kven/Finnish | (part II only) | |
| Lule Sami | |||
| North Sami | |||
| Romanes | |||
| Romani | |||
| South Sami | |||
| 12 February 2009 | Armenian | ||
| Belarusian | |||
| Czech | |||
| German | |||
| Karaim | |||
| Kashub | |||
| Lemko | |||
| Lithuanian | |||
| Romani | |||
| Russian | |||
| Slovakian | |||
| Tatar | |||
| Ukrainian | |||
| Yiddish | |||
| 29 January 2008 | Albanian | (Part II only) | |
| Armenian | (Part II only) | ||
| Bulgarian | (Part III only) | ||
| Croatian | (Part III only) | ||
| Czech | (Part III only) | ||
| German | (Part III only) | ||
| Greek | (Part II only) | ||
| Hungarian | (Part III only) | ||
| Italian | (Part II only) | ||
| Macedonian | (Part II only) | ||
| Polish | (Part II only) | ||
| Romani | (Part II only) | ||
| Russian | Part II and III | ||
| Rusyn (as Ruthenian) | (Part II only) | ||
| Serbian | (Part III only) | ||
| Slovak | (Part III only) | ||
| Tatar | (Part II only) | ||
| Turkish | (Part III only) | ||
| Ukrainian | (Part III only) | ||
| Yiddish | (Part II only) | ||
| 15 February 2006 | Albanian | ||
| Bosnian | |||
| Bulgarian | |||
| Bunjevac | |||
| Croatian | |||
| Czech | |||
| German | |||
| Hungarian | |||
| Macedonian | |||
| Romani | |||
| Romanian | |||
| Rusyn (as Ruthenian) | |||
| Slovakian | |||
| Ukrainian | |||
| Vlach | |||
| 5 September 2001 | Bulgarian | ||
| Croatian | |||
| Czech | |||
| German | |||
| Hungarian | |||
| Polish | |||
| Romani | |||
| Russian | |||
| Rusyn (as Ruthenian) | |||
| Serbian | |||
| Ukrainian | |||
| Yiddish | |||
| 4 October 2000 | Croatian | ||
| German | |||
| Hungarian | |||
| Italian | |||
| Romani | |||
| Serbian | |||
| 9 April 2001 | Amazigh | in Melilla | |
| Aragonese | luenga propia in Aragon | ||
| Aranese (Occitan) | in Catalonia | ||
| Asturian language | present in Asturias; and in part of Leon, Zamora, Salamanca, Cantabria and Extremadura (recognized in Asturias, Castile and León) | ||
| Basque | (official in the Basque Country and part of Navarre) | ||
| Catalan | official in the Balearic Islands and Catalonia; llengua pròpia in Aragon. | ||
| Darija | in Ceuta | ||
| Extremaduran | in Extremadura | ||
| Fala | in Extremadura | ||
| Galician | present in Galicia; and in part of Asturias, Leon and Zamora provinces (official in Galicia) | ||
| Leonese | |||
| Portuguese | |||
| Valencian (A dialect of Catalan) | official in Valencia | ||
| 9 February 2000 | Finnish | ||
| Lule Sami | |||
| Meänkieli | |||
| North Sami | |||
| Romani | |||
| South Sami | |||
| Yiddish | |||
| 23 December 1997 | Franco-Provençal | ||
| French | |||
| German | |||
| Italian | |||
| Romansh | |||
| Yenish | |||
| 19 September 2005 | Armenian | Ukraine does not specify languages by name, but rather ratifies on behalf of "the languages of the following ethnic minorities of Ukraine | |
| Belarusian | |||
| Bulgarian | |||
| Crimean Tatar | |||
| Gagauz | |||
| German | |||
| Greek | |||
| Hungarian | |||
| Karaim | |||
| Krimchak | |||
| Moldovan | |||
| Polish | |||
| Romani | |||
| Romanian | |||
| Russian | |||
| Rusyn (as Ruthenian) | |||
| Slovakian | |||
| Yiddish | |||
| 27 March 2001 | Cornish | (Article 2, Part II only (Article 7)) | |
| Irish | (Articles 2 and 3, Part II (Article 7) and Part III (Articles 8–14, with reservations)) | ||
| Scots | (Articles 2 and 3, Part II only (Article 7)) | ||
| Ulster-Scots | (Articles 2 and 3, Part II only (Article 7)) | ||
| Scottish Gaelic | (Articles 2 and 3, Part II (Article 7) and Part III (Articles 8–14, with reservations)) | ||
| Welsh | (Articles 2 and 3, Part II (Article 7) and Part III (Articles 8–14, with reservations)) | ||
| 27 March 2001 | Manx Gaelic | (Article 2, Part II only (Article 7)) |
Related Topics
European Context
Explore related initiatives and concepts concerning linguistic diversity and rights within the European framework.
- Euromosaic
- European languages
- Languages of the European Union
Rights and Conventions
Understand the broader legal and policy landscape surrounding minority rights and language protection.
- Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
- Linguistic rights
- Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights
Recognition Days
Learn about initiatives that promote awareness of linguistic diversity.
- European Day of Languages
Official Resources
Charter Texts
Access the official documentation and related reports for the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
- Charter Text (opens in new tab)
- More Information on the Treaty (opens in new tab)
- Explanatory Report (opens in new tab)
Council of Europe & Eurolang
Explore resources from the Council of Europe and Eurolang for comprehensive information on minority languages.
- Charter Website (opens in new tab)
- Eurolang (News Agency) (opens in new tab)
Wikisource
Access the original text of the Charter on Wikisource for detailed study.
- European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages on Wikisource (opens in new tab)
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References
References
- Hult, F.M. (2004). Planning for multilingualism and minority language rights in Sweden. Language Policy, 3(2), 181-201.
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Important Notice
This page has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is derived from publicly available data and may not be exhaustive or entirely current. It is presented in an academic tone suitable for higher education students.
This is not legal or policy advice. The information provided herein should not be considered a substitute for professional consultation regarding international treaties, language policy, or legal matters. Always refer to official documentation and consult with qualified experts for specific advice.
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