A report published today by the Committee of Experts who monitor adherence to the Council of Europe’s European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages notes positive developments in Austria, but gaps remain in implementing the Charter, which had entered into force in Austria in 2001 and applies to the following languages: Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Hungarian, Romani, Slovak and Slovenian.

Based on the prevailing political and legal situation when the Committee of Experts’ visited Austria in October 2022, the report notes that funding for ethnic groups at the federal level has “increased significantly” since 2021, including a special budget allocation for one publication for each ethnic group. Furthermore, minority language promotion has been included in a new agreement (in Article 15A of the Austrian Federal Constitution) between the federation and the Länder for pre-school education. New curricula refer to the history and culture of ethnic groups.

The federal authorities have been funding bilingual municipality websites and apps and translations of forms or publications, and there is a focus on the online use of minority languages, in a wider context of digitalization. Minority languages are used in cultural activities, supported financially by the authorities.

However, while minority languages are present in education – especially in Burgenland and Carinthia – “problematic issues” persist even in these two Länder, linked  continuity of education,  shortage of teachers, especially in pre-school and secondary education and lack of textbooks for some languages. Beyond Burgenland and Carinthia, the report notes the lack of “structured policy” to protect and promote minority languages, which has a “negative impact on education”.

The report also is critical of the “lacking” use of minority languages before courts and in administration. Slovenian remains the only minority language used in the judiciary, with a stronger presence in administration. Burgenland-Croatian and Hungarian are not used before the courts and are rarely employed in administration. The report calls for a more structured and pro-active approach in these domains to facilitate minority language use.

While positive developments for minority language use in media are outlined in the report, some languages in broadcasting remain too limited.. The report stresses an “overall need” to promote awareness among all stakeholders and society as a whole of minority languages and cultures as an integral part of Austria’s cultural heritage.

Recommendations to Austria for “immediate action” in the report including the following:

Strengthen the use of Burgenland-Croatian, Hungarian in education, including by providing enough teachers and necessary teaching material, as well as the teaching of Romani.

Strengthen the use of Burgenland-Croatian and Slovenian in administration in practice, including the publication of documents, in particular at local level.

Ensure sustainable and sufficient funding for the Komenský School, which is the main option for Czech and Slovak-language education in Vienna

Increase the frequency and duration of Hungarian language television programmes and ensure sufficient financial support to the main Hungarian-language newspaper

Promote awareness throughout the country of the Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Hungarian, Romani, Slovak and Slovenian languages and cultures as an integral part of the cultural heritage of Austria, in mainstream education and in the media.

The 5th 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 Austria in October 2022.