Recommendation RecChL(2002) 1 of the Committee of Ministers on the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages by Germany

The Committee of Ministers,

In accordance with Article 16 of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages;

Having regard to the instrument of ratification submitted by Germany on 16 September 1998;

Having taken note of the evaluation made by the Committee of Experts on the Charter with respect to the application of the Charter by Germany;

Having taken note of the comments made by the German authorities on the contents of the Committee of Experts' report;

Bearing in mind that this evaluation is based on information submitted by Germany in its initial periodical report, supplementary information given by the German authorities, information submitted by bodies and associations legally established in Germany and on the information obtained by the Committee of Experts during its "on-the- spot" visit,

Recommends that the German authorities take account of all the observations of the Committee of Experts and, as a matter of priority:

1. adopt specific legal provisions, where these are still lacking, in order to implement the undertakings which Germany has entered into under the Charter;

2. establish specific planning and monitoring mechanisms and ensure adequate resource allocation in the field of education ;

3. take urgent action to strengthen education in North Frisian, Sater Frisian and Lower Sorbian, whose survival is particularly endangered, and in particular ensure continuity in educational provision in these languages throughout the school system ;

4. improve basic and further teacher training for all regional and minority languages;

5. establish a structural policy for making it practically possible to use regional or minority languages in dealings with the administration and, where relevant, in the courts;

6. make the speakers of the regional or minority languages more aware that they have the possibility to avail themselves of the right to use their language before administrative and, where relevant, judicial authorities;

7. take a more active approach towards promoting the presence of the regional or minority languages in the media.

Comments:
Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 4 December 2002 at the 820th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies
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