New Reports on Minority Language Situation in Austria and Serbia

Council of Europe

The Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML) has published new reports on Austria and Serbia. The reports provide a general evaluation of the situation and contain snapshots of the situation of each language covered by the Charter, assessing whether there has been improvement, deterioration, or no change.

In its report on Austria, the Committee of Experts notes positive developments, such as increased ethnic language support, but says that gaps remain in implementing the Charter. The ECRML has entered into force in Austria in 2001 and applies to the following languages: Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Hungarian, Romani, Slovak and Slovenian.

In the report on Serbia, the Committee says that Serbia has made progress in the implementation of its undertakings over the past five years. However, it stresses that bilingual education be promoted, use of minority languages in the media extended, and national councils of national minorities strengthened. The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages entered into force in the Republic of Serbia in 2006. It applies to Albanian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Bunjevac, Croatian, Czech, German, Hungarian, Macedonian, Romani, Romanian, Ruthenian, Slovak, Ukrainian and Vlach.

Press release

Austria: Minority languages report praises increased ethnic language support, but gaps remain

Press release

Serbia: improvement in minority languages situation, but more efforts needed to promote their use in education, media, public life

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