80. Representing the Federal Chancellor with regard to the scope of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

According to information from the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, the following states have their instruments of ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (BGBl. III N ° 216/2001):

States:	Date of deposit of the instrument of ratification:
Armenia	25 January 2002
Luxembourg	22 June 2005
Montenegro	15 February 2006
Serbia	15 February 2006
Slovakia	5 September 2001
Czech Republic	15. November 2006
Ukraine	19 September 2005
Cyprus	26 August 2002

On the occasion of the deposit of their instrument of ratification, the following declarations have been made or Reservations are explained:

Armenia:

Declaration on Art. 3:

In accordance with Article 3 (1) of the Charter, the Republic of Armenia states that, within the meaning of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, minority languages in the Republic of Armenia, the Assyrian, the Yesidian, the Greek, the Russian and are the Kurdish language.

Declaration on Art. 2:

In accordance with Article 2 (3) of the Charter, the Republic of Armenia states that it applies the following provisions of the Charter to the Assyrian, the Yesidic, the Greek, the Russian and the Kurdish language:

-		Art. 8-Training:
		Par. 1 lit. a iv; 1 lit. b iv; 1 lit. c iv; 1 lit. d iv; 1 lit. e iii; 1 lit. f iii.
-		Art. 9-Judicial authorities:
		Par. 1 lit. a ii, iii, iv; 1 lit. b ii; 1 lit. c ii and iii; 1 lit. d.
-		Art. 10-Managing authorities and public service providers:
		Par. 1 lit. a iv and v; 1 lit. b; 2 lit. b; 2 lit. f; 2 lit. g; 3 lit. c; 4 lit. c;
		Paragraph 5.
-		Art. 11-Media:
		Par. 1 lit. a iii; 1 lit. b ii; 1 lit. c ii; 1 lit. e;
		2 and 3.
-		Art. 12-Cultural activities and facilities:
		Paragraph 1, lit. a; lit. d; lit. F.
-		Art. 13-Economic and social life:
		1 lit. b; 1 lit. c; 1 lit. d; 2 lit. b; 2 lit. c.
-		Art. 14-Cross-border exchange:
		lit. a and lit. b.

Montenegro:

Declaration on Art. 1:

In accordance with Article 2 (2) of the Charter, the Republic of Montenegro shall recognise the application of the following provisions for the languages of Albanian and Romanes:

-		Art. 8 (1) (lit). a iii, lit. a iv, lit. b ii, lit. b iv, lit. c iii, lit. c iv, lit. d iv, lit. e ii, lit. f iii, lit. g, lit. h;
-		Art. 9 (1) (lit). a ii, lit. a iii, lit. a iv, lit. b ii, lit. b iii, lit. c ii, lit. c iii, lit. d; para. 2 lit. a, lit. b, lit. c; para. 3;
-		Art. 10 (1) (lit). a iii, lit. a iv, lit. a v, lit. c; para. 2 lit. b, lit. d, lit. g; para. 3 lit. a; para. 4 lit. a, lit. c; para. 5;
-		Art. 11 (1) (lit). a iii, lit. b ii, lit. c ii, lit. d, lit. e i, lit. (f ii; para. 2; para. 3;
-		Art. 12 (1) lit. a, lit. b, lit. c, lit. f; para. 2;
-		Art. 13 (1) (lit). c.

Reservation on Art. 2:

To Art. 1 lit. b of the Charter Serbia and Montenegro declares that the term "territory in which the regional or minority language is used" refers to areas in which regional and minority languages are officially used in accordance with national law .

Serbia:

Declaration on Art. 1:

In accordance with Article 2 (2) of the Charter, Serbia and Montenegro shall recognise the application of the following provisions:

In the Republic of Serbia for Albanian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Romanian, Ruthenic, Slovakian, Ukrainian and Croatian language and Romanesque:

-		Art. 8 (1) (lit). a iii, lit. a iv, lit. b iv, lit. d iv, lit. e ii, lit. f iii, lit. g;
-		Art. 9 (1) (lit). a ii, lit. a iii, lit. b ii, lit. c ii, lit. d; para. 2 lit. a, lit. b, lit. c; para. 3;
-		Art. 10 (1) (lit). a iv, lit. a v, lit. c; para. 2 lit. b, lit. c, lit. d, lit. g; para. 3 lit. c; para. 4 lit. c; para. 5;
-		Art. 11 (1) (lit). a iii, lit. b ii, lit. c ii, lit. d, lit. e i, lit. (f ii; para. 2; para. 3;
-		Art. 12 (1) lit. a, lit. b, lit. c, lit. f; para. 2;
-		Art. 13 (1) (c);
-		Art. 14 lit. a, lit. b.

Reservation on Art. 2:

To Art. 1 lit. b of the Charter Serbia and Montenegro declares that the term "territory in which the regional or minority language is used" refers to areas in which regional and minority languages are officially used in accordance with national law .

Slovakia:

The Slovak Republic declares that it shall comply with the Charter in accordance with the Constitution of the Slovak Republic and the relevant international conventions to ensure the equality of all citizens before the law without distinction of the It shall apply the nationality of the Member State of origin, race or nationality, in order to promote the heritage of the European language, without prejudice to the use of the official language.

Declaration of Art. 1 and 10:

The Slovak Republic declares that according to Art. 1 lit. (b) the Charter of the term 'territory in which the regional or minority language is used' refers also to the application in Article 10 to cities in which the citizens of the Slovak Republic, which belong to national minorities, at least 20% of the population, according to the Regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic No 221/1999 Coll., of 25 August 1999.

Declaration on Art. 2 and 3

In accordance with Article 3 (1) of the Charter, the Slovak Republic declares that the "regional or minority languages" in the Slovak Republic are the following languages: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, German, Hungarian, Polish, Romanes, Ruthenian and Ukrainian. The application of the provisions of the Charter in accordance with Article 2 (2) shall be as follows:

-		Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, German, Polish and Romanes:
		Art. 8 (1) (lit). a iii; lit. b iii, lit. c iii; lit. e ii; lit. f ii; lit. g; lit. h; lit. i;
		Art. 9 (1) (lit). a ii/iii; lit. b ii/iii; lit. c ii/ii; lit. d;
		Art. 10 (1) (lit). a iii/iv; para. 2 lit. b; lit. c; lit. d; lit. f; lit. g; para. 3 lit. c; para. 4 lit. a; lit. c; para. 5;
		Art. 11 (1) (lit). a iii; lit. b ii; lit. c ii; lit. d; lit. e; lit. i; lit. (f ii; para. 2; para. 3;
		Art. 12 (1) lit. a; lit. b; lit. c; lit. d; lit. e; lit. f; lit. g; para. 2; para. 3;
		Art. 13 (1) (a); lit. b; lit. c; para. 2 lit. c;
		Art. 14 lit. a;
		Art. 14 lit. b, only for the Czech, German and Polish languages.
-		Ruthenic and Ukrainian:
		Art. 8 (1) (lit). a ii; lit. b ii; lit. c ii; lit. d ii; lit. e ii; lit. f ii; lit. g; lit. h; lit. i;
		Art. 9 (1) (lit). a ii/iii; lit. b ii/iii; lit. c ii/ii; lit. d; para. 3;
		Art. 10 (1) (lit). a iii/iv; para. 2 lit. b; lit. c; lit. d; lit. f; lit. g; para. 3 lit. c; para. 4 lit. a; lit. c; para. 5;
		Art. 11 (1) (lit). a iii; lit. b ii; lit. c ii; lit. d; lit. e i; lit. (f ii; para. 2; para. 3;
		Art. 12 (1) lit. a; lit. b; lit. c; lit. d; lit. e; lit. f; lit. g; para. 2; para. 3;
		Art. 13 (1) (a); lit. b; lit. c; para. 2 lit. c;
		Art. 14 lit. a;
		Art. 14 lit. b, only for the Ukrainian language.
-		Hungarian:
		Art. 8 (1) (lit). a i; lit. b i; lit. c i; lit. d i; lit. e i; lit. f i; lit. g; lit. h; lit. i;
		Art. 9 (1) (lit). a ii/iii; lit. b ii/iii; lit. c ii/ii; lit. d; para. 2 lit. a; para. 3;
		Art. 10 (1) (lit). a ii; para. 2 lit. a; lit. b; lit. c; lit. d; lit. f; lit. g; para. 3 lit. b; lit. c; para. 4 lit. a; lit. c; para. 5;
		Art. 11 (1) (lit). a iii; lit. b ii; lit. c ii; lit. d; lit. e i; lit. (f i; para. 2; para. 3;
		Art. 12 (1) lit. a; lit. b; lit. c; lit. d; lit. e; lit. f; lit. g; para. 2; para. 3;
		Art. 13 (1) (a); lit. b; lit. c; para. 2 lit. c;
		Art. 14 lit. a; lit. b.

Declaration on Art. 8:

The Slovak Republic lays down Art. 8 (1) lit. e i to the extent that it is related to courses for teachers, theologians, cultural and educational workers, without prejudice to teaching in the official language, which is to understand that the majority of the Teaching subjects in the minority language are taught, taking into account the legislation of the Slovak Republic in the higher education sector.

Declaration on Art. 10:

The Slovak Republic declares that Art. 10 para. 1 lit. a ii, Art. 10 para. 2 lit. a and Art. 10 para. 3 lit. (b) to be interpreted without prejudice to the use of the official language, in accordance with the Constitution of the Slovak Republic and in accordance with the legal order of the Slovak Republic.

Declaration on Articles 12 and 13:

The Slovak Republic declares that Art. 12 (1) (e) and Article 13 (2) (2) (2). (c) provided that the effects of their application do not conflict with other provisions of the legal order of the Slovak Republic on the prohibition of discrimination against Slovak citizens in labour law conditions on the territory of the Slovak Republic.

Czech Republic:

Declaration on Art. 1:

The Czech Republic hereby declares that it will apply the Charter in accordance with its constitutional order, as well as the international treaties to which it is bound.

Although there is no general legal system in the Czech Republic relating to the official national language for the purposes of the Charter, the minority languages used are languages which are subject to the conditions of Article 1 lit. a. In accordance with the Charter, therefore, the Czech Republic declares that it considers the Slovak, Polish, German language and Romanes as minority languages, which are spoken on their territory and with regard to those languages. it will apply the provisions of Part II of the Charter.

Declaration on Art. 2 and 3:

The Czech Republic declares that, in accordance with Article 2 (2) and Article 3 (1) of the Convention, it will apply the following selected provisions of Part III of the Charter to those languages:

-		The Polish language in the Moravia-Silesia region, in the area of the districts of Frydek-Místek and Karviná:
		Art. 8 (1) (lit). a i, lit. a ii, lit. b i, lit. c i, lit. c ii, lit. d ii, lit. e iii, lit. f iii, lit. g, lit. h, lit. i; para. 2;
		Art. 9 (1) (lit). a ii, lit. a iii, lit. a iv, lit. b ii, lit. b iii, lit. c ii, lit. c iii, lit. d; para. 2 lit. a;
		Art. 10 (1) (lit). a iv; para. 2 lit. b, lit. e, lit. f, lit. g; para. 4 lit. a; para. 5;
		Art. 11 (1) (lit). a iii, lit. b ii, lit. c ii, lit. d, lit. e i; para. 2;
		Article 12 (1) lit. a, lit. f, lit. g; para. 2; paragraph 3;
		Art. 13 (1) (c) (2) (e);
		Art. 14 lit. a, lit. b.
-		The Slovak language throughout the territory of the Czech Republic:
		Art. 8 (1) (lit). a iv, lit. b iv, lit. e iii, lit. g, lit. i; para. 2;
		Art. 9 (1) (lit). a ii, lit. a iii, lit. a iv, lit. b ii, lit. b iii, lit. c ii, lit. c iii, lit. d; para. 2 lit. a;
		Art. 10 (1) (lit). a iv, lit. a v; para. 2 lit. b, lit. e, lit. f; para. 3 lit. c; para. 4 lit. a; para. 5;
		Art. 11 (1) (lit). a iii, lit. b ii, lit. d, lit. e i; para. 2;
		Article 12 (1) lit. a, lit. f, lit. g; para. 2; paragraph 3;
		Art. 13 (1) (c) (2) (e);
		Art. 14 lit. a, lit. b.

Ukraine:

Declaration on Art. 3:

Ukraine declares that the provisions of the Charter shall be applied to the languages of the following ethnic minorities of Ukraine: Belarusian, Bulgarian, Gagaussian, Greek, Jewish, Crimean Tatar, Moldovan, German, Polish, Russian, Romanian, Slovakian and Hungarian.

Declaration on Art. 2:

Ukraine assumes obligations under Parts I, II, IV, V of the Charter, with the exception of Part II Art. 7 (5).

Ukraine declares that the following paragraphs and subparagraphs of Articles 8 to 14 of Part III of the Charter shall be applied in respect of any regional language referred to above, to which the provisions of the Charter shall be applied:

a.		Art. 8 (1) (lit). a iii, lit. b iv, lit. c iv, lit. d iv, lit. e iii, lit. f iii, lit. g, lit. h, lit. i; para. 2;
b.		Art. 9 (1) (lit). a iii, lit. b iii, lit. (iii) para. 2 lit. c; para. 3;
c.		Art. 10 (2) lit. a, lit. c, lit. d, lit. e, lit. f, lit. g; para. 4 lit. c;
d.		Art. 11 (1) (lit). a iii, lit. b ii, lit. c ii, lit. d, lit. e i, lit. g; para. 2 and 3;
e.		Art. 12 (1) lit. a, lit. b, lit. c, lit. d, lit. f, lit. g; para. 2 and para. 3;
F.		Art. 13 (1) (lit). b and lit. c;
g.		Art. 14 lit. a and lit. b.

Ukraine declares, in application of the provisions of the Charter, that the measures to establish the Ukrainian language as an official language, its development and its use in all areas of social life throughout the territory of Ukraine -Ukraine should not be interpreted as affecting or threatening the preservation and development of the languages to which the provisions of the Charter are to be applied.

Cyprus:

Declaration on Art. 2:

On the occasion of the ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, the Republic of Cyprus issued a declaration on 26 August 2002 which does not appear to be compatible with the provisions of the Charter.

In order to eliminate uncertainties and to clarify the extent of the commitments undertaken, the Republic of Cyprus shall withdraw the declaration of 26 August 2002 and shall replace it with the following:

The Republic of Cyprus reaffirms its commitment to respect the objectives and principles of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and declares that it does not consider Part II of the Charter to be 'an Armenian language as a language' in accordance with Article 2 (1). territorially bound language " according to Art. 1 lit. c. the Charter will be applied.

The Republic of Cyprus wishes to further maintain that its Constitution and laws effectively implement the principles of equality and non-discrimination with regard to the community of a person, their race, religion, language, sex, their political and other beliefs, their national or social descent, birth, skin colour, their property, their social background or for other reasons, and that protects them.

According to other communications from the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, the following countries have amended the declarations made on the occasion of the deposit of their instrument of ratification, respectively. Supplemented:

Germany:

In accordance with Article 3 (2) of the Charter, the Federal Republic of Germany shall apply the following further selected provisions to the following minority languages in accordance with Article 2 (2) of the Charter:

-		North Frisian in the North Frisian language area in the state of Schleswig-Holstein:
		Art. 10 (2) lit. g.
-		Saterfriese in the saterFrisian language area in the state of Lower Saxony:
		Art. 10 (2) lit. g.
-		Romanes for the territory of the State of Hesse:
		Art. 8 (1) (lit). a iii/iv; lit. b iv; lit. c iv; lit. d iv; lit. e iii; lit. i; para. 2;
		Article 10 (2) (e), lit. (f) (3) (c), (4) (c) (4) (c)
		Art. 11 (1) (lit). b ii; lit. c ii; lit. e i;
		Article 12 (1) (a; lit. d; lit. f; para. 2);
-		in connection with the obligations assumed for the entire territory of the Federal Republic of Germany:
		Art. 8 (1) (lit). f iii; lit. g; lit. h;
		Art. 9 (1) (lit). b iii; lit. c iii; para. 2 lit. a;
		Art. 10 (5);
		Art. 11 (1) lit. d; lit. e ii, lit. f ii; lit. g; para. 2;
		Article 12 (1) (g) (3);
		Art. 13 (1) lit. a; lit. c; lit. d;
		Art. 14 lit. a;

United Kingdom:

Declaration on Art. 2:

The United Kingdom declares, in accordance with Article 2 (1) of the Charter, that Cornish is recognised as a regional or minority language in accordance with Part II of the Charter.

Declaration on Art. 1:

The Government of the United Kingdom declares that the application of the Charter will be extended to the Isle of Man, as an area for whose international relations the United Kingdom is responsible.

Declaration on Art. 2:

As a result of the extension of the application of the Charter to the Isle of Man, the Manx Gaelic language will be a "regional or minority language" within the meaning of the Charter and therefore part II of the Charter will now be applied to the Manx Gaelic language.

Gusenbauer