8/7/2020 European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages - Wikipedia

European Charter for Regional or Minority

Languages
The European Charter for Regional or Minority
Languages (ECRML) is a European treaty (CETS 148) adopted European Charter for
in 1992 under the auspices of the Council of Europe to protect Regional or Minority
and promote historical regional and minority languages in Languages
Europe. The preparation for the charter was undertaken by the Long name:
predecessor to the current Congress of Local and Regional
Authorities, the Standing Conference of Local and Regional CET 148
Authorities of Europe because involvement of local and regional
government was essential. The actual charter was written in the
Parliamentary Assembly based on the Congress'
Recommendations. It only applies to languages traditionally used
by the nationals of the State Parties (thus excluding languages
used by recent immigrants from other states, see immigrant
languages), which significantly differ from the majority or official
language (thus excluding what the state party wishes to consider
as mere local dialects of the official or majority language) and
that either have a territorial basis (and are therefore traditionally
spoken by populations of regions or areas within the State) or are
Member states that have signed and
used by linguistic minorities within the State as a whole (thereby ratified in dark green, those that have
including such languages as Yiddish, Romani and Lemko, which signed but not ratified in light green,
are used over a wide geographic area). those that have neither signed nor
ratified white, non-member states of
Some states, such as Ukraine and Sweden, have tied the status of the Council of Europe grey. Source:
minority language to the recognized national minorities, which the list of signatories (http://conventio
are defined by ethnic, cultural and/or religious criteria, thereby ns.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/ChercheSi
circumventing the Charter's notion of linguistic minority.[1] g.asp?NT=148&CM=8&DF=&CL=EN
G) at the Council of Europe website.
Languages that are official within regions, provinces or federal Signed 5 November 1992
units within a State (for example Catalan in Spain) are not
Location Strasbourg
classified as official languages of the State and may therefore
benefit from the Charter. On the other hand, Ireland has not been Effective 1 March 1998
able to sign the Charter on behalf of the Irish language (although Condition Ratification by 5 States
a minority language) as it is defined as the first official language
of the state. The United Kingdom has ratified the Charter in Signatories 33
respect to (among other languages) Welsh in Wales, Scots and Parties 25
Gaelic in Scotland, and Irish in Northern Ireland. France, Depositary Secretary General of the
although a signatory, has been constitutionally blocked from
Council of Europe
ratifying the Charter in respect to the languages of France.
Languages English and French
The charter provides many actions state parties can take to European Charter for Regional or
protect and promote historical regional and minority languages.
Minority Languages at Wikisource
There are two levels of protection—all signatories must apply the

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8/7/2020 European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages - Wikipedia

lower level of protection to qualifying languages. Signatories may further declare that a qualifying
language or languages will benefit from the higher level of protection, which lists a range of actions from
which states must agree to undertake at least 35.

Contents
Protections
Part II
Part III
Languages protected under the Charter
See also
Notes and references
External links

Protections
Countries can ratify the charter in respect of its minority languages based on Part II or Part III of the
charter, which contain varying principles. Countries can treat languages differently under the charter, for
example, in the United Kingdom, the Welsh language is ratified under the general Part II principles as
well as the more specific Part III commitments, while the Cornish language is ratified only under Part II.

Part II

Part II of the Charter details eight main principles and objectives upon which States must base their
policies and legislation. They are seen as a framework for the preservation of the languages concerned.[2]

Recognition of regional or minority languages as an expression of cultural wealth.

Respect for the geographical area of each regional or minority language.
The need for resolute action to promote such languages.
The facilitation and/or encouragement of the use of such languages, in speech and writing, in public
and private life.
The provision of appropriate forms and means for the teaching and study of such languages at all
appropriate stages.
The promotion of relevant transnational exchanges.
The prohibition of all forms of unjustified distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference relating to the
use of a regional or minority language and intended to discourage or endanger its maintenance or
development.
The promotion by states of mutual understanding between all the country’s linguistic groups.

Part III

Part III details comprehensive rules, across a number of sectors, by which states agree to abide. Each
language to which Part III of the Charter is applied must be named specifically by the government. States
must select at least thirty-five of the undertakings in respect to each language. Many provisions contain
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