News about the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
Council of Europe minority and regional languages representatives at the Symposium “Audible and Visible” in Hilversum, the Netherlands
Today, 10 April, Vesna Crnić-Grotić, member in respect of Croatia and former Chair of the Committee of Experts of the Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of the Council of Europe and Elise Cornu, Executive Secretary of the Charter addressed the Symposium entitled “Audible and Visible”,...
PACE publishes SG report on the Charter's application
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has today published the 12th report of the Secretary General on the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. The report covers two consecutive years (2023-2024) and reflects, among others on the situation of the...
Austria: More should be done to promote minority and regional languages
Strasbourg, 02.04.2025 – Despite efforts, further measures are needed in Austria to strengthen the minority languages covered by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML), according to a report published today by the Expert Committee that monitors Charter adherence. The...
Slovak Republic: visit of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
A delegation of the Committee of Experts is visiting the Slovak Republic this week from 1-4 April 2025 to evaluate progress made in the protection and promotion of regional and minority languages. The delegation is meeting with the representatives of the regional or minority languages speakers...
COMEX 81st plenary meeting
The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages held its 81st plenary meeting on 18-20 March 2025 in Strasbourg. During the meeting, the committee adopted its 6th evaluation report on the application of the Charter by Slovenia, which will be transmitted to the...
Armenia: visit of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
A delegation of the Committee of Experts is visiting Armenia this week from 3-7 March 2025 to evaluate progress made in the protection and promotion of regional and minority languages. The delegation is meeting with the representatives of the regional or minority languages speakers and the...
Cyprus: Minority languages benefit from government support, but Cypriot Maronite Arabic “in danger of extinction” among other findings in new report
Strasbourg, 27.02.2025 – In an evaluation adopted on 19 November 2024 and published today, the Council of Europe's Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages notes “structured and comprehensive” financial support for two languages concerned: Cypriot Maronite...
Implementation Roundtable on the Fourth Evaluation Report on the Application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in Poland
On 13–14 February, the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and Administration and its Department of Religious Denominations and National and Ethnic Minorities, organized an Implementation Roundtable on the Charter in Wrocław, Poland. The event saw high-level...
Implementation Roundtable on the fifth evaluation report of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in Belgrade (Serbia)
On 5 February, the Council of Europe and the Serbian authorities organised an Implementation Roundtable on the Charter in Belgrade (Serbia). At this event, representatives of the users of the regional or minority languages in Serbia, the national authorities and the Committee of Experts of the...
COMEX 80th plenary meeting
The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages held its 80th plenary meeting on 18-20 November 2024 in Strasbourg. During the meeting, the committee adopted the seventh evaluation report on the application of the Charter by Cyprus, which will be transmitted to...
Equality and Diversity transcending divides?
A Forum Talk on “How to Counter Discrimination and Promote Equality and Diversity to Transcend Divides in Society?’ was organised within the 12th edition of the World Forum for Democracy (6 – 8 November 2024) by the Anti-discrimination Department. The session, moderated by Erik Adell Hellström,...
Safeguarding Romani Language – A step forward towards harmonisation of Romani language in Europe
On the occasion of the International Romani Language Day, the Division of National Minorities and Minority Languages and the Roma and Travellers Division of the Council of Europe and the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) co-hosted the 5th edition the “Safeguarding Romani...
Slovenia: visit of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
A delegation of the Committee of Experts is visiting Slovenia this week from 30 September - 4 October 2024 to evaluate progress made in the protection and promotion of regional and minority languages. The delegation is meeting with the representatives of the regional or minority languages...
Spain’s system to protect regional and minority languages is well developed but gaps persist in justice, healthcare and public administration
In an evaluation report published today, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages concludes that while Spain has a well-developed system for the protection and promotion of its regional and minority languages, further efforts are...
Committee of Experts calls for measures to boost regional and minority languages in the UK
The Committe of Experts has urged the United Kingdom to adopt language strategies for Irish and Ulster Scots, in particular, and to strengthen the teaching of all regional or minority languages in the UK – including Cornish, Scots, Scottish Gaelic and Welsh – as well as Manx Gaelic on the Isle of...
Netherlands: ECRML protection extended to the Papiamento/u language in the European part of the Kingdom
On 1 July 2024, the Netherlands notified the Council of Europe of the extension of the protection of the Papiamento/Papiamentu language under Part II of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages to the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On this occasion, a meeting took...
Report on implementation of recommendations for immediate action for regional and minority language use in Germany
In an evaluation adopted 20 June this year, the Council of Europe's Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages acknowledges legal and policy measures that have been taken by the German federal authorities and by the Länder to protect and promote regional or...
Netherlands: Examination of the implementation of the recommendations for immediate action
While acknowledging efforts of the authorities of the Netherlands to comply with the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, the evaluation by the Committee of Experts of the Implementation of the Recommendations for Immediate Action contained in the Committee’s seventh evaluation...
COMEX 79th plenary meeting
The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages held its 79th plenary meeting on 17-21 June 2024 in Strasbourg. During the meeting, the Committee adopted the 6th evaluation report on the application of the Charter by Spain and the 6th evaluation report on the...
Cyprus: visit of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
A delegation of the Committee of Experts is visiting Cyprus this week from 6-7 June 2024 to evaluate progress made in the protection and promotion of regional and minority languages. The delegation is meeting with the representatives of the regional or minority languages speakers and the...
Text of the Charter
Secretariat of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
Directorate of Anti-Discrimination
DGII Democracy
Council of Europe
Agora Building, 1 quai Jacoutot
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France
Tel: +33 (0)3 90 21 49 36
