Czechia has decided to extend its undertakings under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML) regarding German in the districts of Cheb, Karlovy Vary, Sokolov, Liberec, Ústí nad Labem, Český Krumlov, Opava and Svitavy (see the notification in full here).
The authorities have undertaken to make available a substantial part of pre-school, primary, secondary, as well as technical and vocational education in these districts in German; to make university and other higher education available in German; to make arrangements to ensure the teaching of the history and the culture related to German in Czechia, and to train the teachers needed for language and history education.
As for the examples of the new possibilities to use German in the judicial system in the above districts, the accused should have the right to use this language in criminal proceedings; requests and evidence shall not be considered in admissible solely because they are formulated in German; in civil and administrative proceedings, litigants should be able to use German when appearing in person before a court without incurring additional expense.
Users of German should be able to submit applications to national, regional and local authorities in this language. Broadcasting of TV and radio programmes on a regular basis, and the existence of at least one newspaper in German should be encouraged. New undertakings also concern cultural activities, economic and social life, and transfrontier exchanges.
The Committee of Experts under the ECRML welcomes this extension of the protection of German in these districts of Czechia. It encourages states parties to regularly review their level of commitment under the Charter to reflect improvements in the situation of their regional or minority languages.
