In its sixth report on Germany, the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages praises steps taken to protect and promote regional or minority languages (Danish, Lower Sorbian, Upper Sorbian, North Frisian, Sater Frisian, Low German and Romani), including legislation and strategies meant to strengthen the position of these languages in education, administration and media.

While federal authorities retain responsibilities and have a co-ordinating role, the competence for implementing the Charter in Germany lies mainly with the country’s states or Länder.

Following a visit in May 2018 and discussions with German government and civil society representatives over progress made since their last report, the Committee of Experts say that the protection and promotion of regional and minority languages is a topic which “regularly receives” attention from German authorities.

The experts praise several Länder for positive initiatives, including, for example, Schleswig-Holstein, which amended its Constitution and put Danish minority schools on an equal footing with public schools in terms of public funding. They praise an amendment to the Land Administration Act, which enables the submission of applications or documents in Low German, North Frisian or Danish to national, regional or local authorities.

Despite positive developments, improving education for Lower Sorbian, North Frisian, Sater Frisian, Low German and Romani is needed. And for all regional and minority languages, providing a sufficient number of trained teachers is becoming a “challenge”, the experts say.

In the judicial and administrative fields, the use of regional or minority languages in practice should be strengthened. While the report praises bilingual signage – whether for names of municipalities or street names – the use of these languages by state authorities themselves for their work or for drafting documents, for example, occurs too rarely. The authorities should have a more “proactive and welcoming approach, showing that they are prepared for the use of the regional or minority languages”, according to the report.

Other issues raised by the report include a need for greater use of regional or minority languages in broadcast media, especially for television, and how the use of regional or minority languages in social care facilities is “becoming increasingly important”, thus requiring “a more structured approach” to improve the situation.

The report also calls for closer co-operation between the Länder where the same languages are protected. The Committee of Experts emphasises the need for more monitoring to better assess minority language education over time.

The report – made public this week by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers – includes detailed tables indicating to what extent each of the Länder concerned are complying with Charter guidelines meant to protect and promote these languages.

The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is the European convention for the protection and promotion of languages used by traditional minorities. It entered into force in Germany in 1999. Together with the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the Charter constitutes the Council of Europe’s commitment to protect national minorities.

Read the CM Recommendations on Germany here.