The Council of Europe has published a mid-term report on Finland´s implementation of its 22 recommendations for immediate action made in the sixth evaluation report on the European Charter for regional or minority languages.
The charter, which entered into force in Finland 1998 applies to Swedish (the less widely used national language), Inari Sami, North Sami, Skolt Sami, Karelian, Romani, Russian, Tatar and Yiddish.
Recommendations on minority languages still to be implemented
The Committee of Experts welcomes progress made, but regrets that several recommendations have not been implemented, notably regarding teacher training, social and health services, media and the lack of sustainable funding across various fields. It also reiterates that Finland should raise awareness about its minorities within the majority and take measures to revitalise the Romani and Karelian languages. It should also step up measure to protect the severely endangered Skolt Sami and Yiddish, which are at risk of disappearing.
The committee of experts welcomes that Inari Sami, North Sami and Skolt Sami continue to be taught at the universities of Oulu and Lapland, which can lead to creating more opportunities for teacher training. In addition, the committee of experts encourages the authorities to develop a long-term strategy with sustainable funding to ensure the availability of teachers in Inari Sami, North Sami, Skolt Sami in co-operation with representatives of speakers. The authorities should also introduce incentives for students, such as bursaries, guaranteed employment or salary bonuses to encourage participation in teacher training.
As much of the funding continues to be project-based, the Committee of Experts reiterates its recommendation that funding of promoting Inari Sami, North Sami and Skolt Sami should be available for longer periods not to hamper the continuity of services, which include health and social services.
The Committee of Experts recommends further action to revitalise the Romani language. It encourages the authorities to address the persisting shortage of teachers and notes that further steps are needed to ensure sustainable teaching in Romani.
Another recommendation for immediate action concerned the use of Swedish, especially within regional and local authorities and in social and health care facilities. As shortcomings have been reported in digital services, such as inadequate Swedish translations, missing links to information in Swedish, the Committee of Experts is looking forward to a report on the availability of services in bilingual wellbeing service counties as well as reliable data on the challenges and the impact of the 2023 health reform.
While the committee of experts takes note of audio-visual materials aimed at increasing awareness of the minority languages spoken in Finland, it encourages the authorities to strengthen their efforts to promote awareness of minority languages among the majority population in both education and media.
The Finnish authorities are to present their next periodical report by 1 March 2028.
