European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in Germany

In the report, the Council of Europe calls on Germany to adopt specific legislation and policies to ensure the implementation of the Charter, notably to promote and preserve its particularly endangered languages North Frisian, Sater Frisian and Lower Sorbian.

The Council encourages Germany to ensure an effective mechanism to monitor education in regional or minority languages. In particular, Germany should ensure that the reduction of subsidies for Danish-language private schools and the changes in the educational system concerning the Upper Sorbian language do not jeopardize education in these two languages. More teaching hours should then be devoted to Low German which, according to the experts, should be taught as a regular school subject and as an integral part of the curriculum in the Länder concerned.

Regarding broadcasting in minority languages, it is recommended that Germany takes measures for an adequate supply of broadcasting in Danish, Low German, Lower Sorbian, North Frisian, Romani and Sater Frisian.

Finally, Germany should establish a structured policy which makes it possible to use regional and minority languages when dealing with the administration and in the courts.

List of countries that have adopted the Charter

• Armenia
• Austria
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• Germany
• Hungary
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Montenegro
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Romania
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom