Council of Europe conference on the ECRML
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 23:15:45 +0300 (EET DST)
Message-Id: <[email protected]>
Subject: Council of Europe conference on the ECRML
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Council of Europe conference on the ECRML
Here is a brief account on the conference the MINELRES moderator
attended last week.
The International Conference on the European Charter for Regional and
Minority Languages was organised by the Council of Europe on 26-27
March, 1998 in Strasbourg. Apparently, the conference was devoted to
the really encouraging fact - namely, the Charter entered into force
on 1 March 1998, one month after the Framework Convention did. The
Charter was opened for signature on 05/11/92, 5 ratifications was the
condition for entry into force. So far the Charter has been ratified
by Norway (10/11/93), Finland (09/11/94), Hungary (26/04/95), The
Netherlands (02/05/96), Croatia (05/11/97), Liechtenstein (18/11/97),
and Switzerland (23/12/97).
Representatives of the governments of the member states took part in
the conference, as well as several experts and representatives of
international NGOs.
The programme of the conference was the following:
- Opening of the conference by the Deputy Secretary General of the
Council of Europe, Mr Hans Christian Kruger
- Presentation of the European Charter for Regional and Minority
Languages (Mr Philip Blair, Deputy-Director of the Private Office of
the Secretary General of the Council of Europe)
- Regional or minority languages and education problems (Mr Romedi
Arquint, Member of the Parliament of the Canton of Grisons,
Switzerland)
- Problems raised by the use of regional and minority languages before
public and judicial authorities (Mr Jean-Marie Woerhling, President of
the Administrative Court in Strasbourg, France)
- Mass media, cultural activities and regional or minority languages
(Ms Elin Gruffydd Jones, Mercator Media, United Kingdom)
- The use of regional or minority languages in social and economic
life (Ms Mari Karmen Garmendia, Minister for Culture of the Basque
Government, Spain)
- Conclusions by Mr Ferdinando Albanese, Director of Environment and
Local Authorities of the Council of Europe.
Each presentation was followed by extensive discussions, thus, it is
hardly possible to cover even basic points made. I can just to share
my impressions superficially.
As Mr Kruger pointed out, the Charter is more detailed instrument than
the Framework Convention. Besides, the Charter, unlike the Framework
Convention, deals not only with national minorities, but also with
regional and dispersed groups.
Mr Blair pointed out three basic features of the Charter: very full
account of various sutuations when a minority language is used; very
concrete measures envisaged; and broad scope of practical mechanisms
of implementing the general principles. Each contracting party can
choose what option of the enumerated in the document to apply (for
more details, see the text of the Charter at the MINELRES web site at
http://www.riga.lv/minelres/coe/crml.htm, or at the Council of Europe
web site at http://www.coe.fr/eng/legaltxt/148e.htm).
It was quite visible that the conference organizers pressed on the
governmental representatives to sign and ratify the Charter as soon as
possible. Some governmental officials claimed very soon anticipated
ratification - in particular, Germany and Slovenia may ratify the
Convention before June, and Austria in some 6 months. Ratifications by
Slovakia, Romania and Czech Republic also might be expected soon.
Other states' representatives were more reluctant with promises and
forecasts.
Generally, comparison between the Charter and the Framework Convention
is a very interesting topic which requires special consideration. I
would appreciate if someone of the MINELRES participants speaks out on
the issue. As to my personal view, it seems the fact that the Charter
had been developed before the extension of the Council of Europe
eastwards does matter much: in fact, the Charter's provisions are
rather geared to traditional conditions of minorities in Western
Europe, and may often cause complications in Central Eastern Europe
and former Soviet Union.
Nevertheless, promotion of the Charter should be definitely strongly
appreciated. Undoubtedly, it offers strong basis for implementation of
the minority rights which in many cases can be applied also in the
"new" member states of the Council of Europe.
Hopefully, the conference materials will be published. At least some
of the presentations will be put on the MINELRES web site anyway (I
was promised that some texts will be sent to me, in particular, one of
Elin Gruffydd Jones who touched upon, among other issues, also usage
of Internet for development and promotion of the minority languages).
Some subscribers asked me about the materials distributed at the
conference. Indeed, there were many interesting things. In
particular,
publications of the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages:
Immersion and Multilingual Education in the European Union (Inventory
of educational systems in which teaching is provided partly or
entirely through the medium of a regional or minority language), by
Anne-Sophie Oudin; The Bureau Annual Report 1996; Promoting Linguistic
Diversity in Europe (collection of booklets and the Bureau's
bulletins); The Diversity Dividend. Language, Culture and Economy in
an Integrated Europe; Language Rights, Individual and Collective (The
usage of lesser used languages in public administration); Key Words. A
Step into World of Lesser Used Languages; and more. I assume
information about how to receive these and other Bureau's publications
can be obtained from its Information Centre ([email protected]) or the
Head office ([email protected]). Publications of the Mercator Education
(including eg the bibliography on bilingual education containing over
1700 entries) can be received from this institution
([email protected]). Those who wish to have a hardcopy of the
Charter's text with an explanatory note, as well as other relevant CoE
publications, may contact [email protected]. Besides, the
following country-specific publications were distributed at the
conference: The Situation of the Slovak National Minority in Hungary
(Budapest, Office of the Prime Minister, 1997), Facts about National
Minorities in the Republic of Macedonia (Skopje, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, 1997); Ethnic Group Report 1996 (Austrian Center for Ethnic
Groups); Swedish in Finland - an Introduction; The Sorbs/Wends in
Germany; A Little Guide to the Sorbs/Wends in Germany, etc.
I am going to put some of these materials (or excerpts) on the
MINELRES web site in a foreseeable future...
Of course, any specific questions (and/or comments) on the issue will
be much appreciated.
Boris
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