Strasbourg, 20 September 2001 ECRML (2001) 5

 

 

 

 

European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPLICATION OF THE CHARTER IN LIECHTENSTEIN

 

Report of the Committee of Experts on the Charter

adopted on 9 February 2001 and

presented to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe

in conformity with Article 16 of the Charter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

  1. Report of the Committee of Experts on the application of the Charter Liechtenstein

Chapter I: Background information …………………

1.1 The work of the Committee of Experts ...

1.2 Particular issues arising in the evaluation of the application of the Charter in Liechtenstein................................................

Chapter 2: Findings .................................................

Appendix I: Instrument of ratification ………….......…….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Chapter 1 Background information

  1. The Principality of Liechtenstein signed the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (hereafter referred to as the Charter) on 5 November 1992 and deposited its instrument of ratification on 18 November 1997. The instrument of ratification is attached as Appendix I of this report. The Charter entered into force for Liechtenstein on 1 March 1998. The authorities of Liechtenstein published the text of the Charter in the national law gazette, Landesgesetzblatt.

  2. In accordance with Article 15.1 of the Charter, Liechtenstein presented its initial periodical report to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on 1 March 1999. The report was adopted by the Parliament of Liechtenstein and the Private Office of the Government as a public document.

  3. This report was adopted by the Committee of Experts on 7 February 2001.

    4.  

    1.1 The work of the Committee of Experts

  4. The Committee of Experts took note of the initial periodical report of Liechtenstein, which reflects the Principality’s particular situation of having no regional or minority languages within the meaning of the Charter.

  5. However, with a view of maintaining the consistent evaluation of the Committee for all the Parties, the Committee enquired how the authorities had published the text of the Charter and whether the initial periodical report itself had also been made public. These two requirements are considered by the Committee as fundamental, even if no regional or minority languages exist in a State Party. The Committee has satisfied itself that there are no regional or minority languages traditionally used in Liechtenstein.

    1. Particular issues arising in the evaluation of the application of the Charter in Liechtenstein

  1. German is the official language in Liechtenstein as stipulated in Article 6 of the Constitution of 1921. At the time of ratification of the Charter by Liechtenstein it was declared that no regional or minority languages in the sense of the Charter exist on the territory of the State. Liechtenstein ratified the Charter in order to underline the importance it attaches to the Charter as an instrument for the protection and promotion of regional or minority languages as a threatened aspect of Europe’s cultural heritage and to contribute to the entry into force of the Charter. In this way, Liechtenstein has emphasised the need to preserve and cultivate the cultural diversity of Europe.

  2. As the Charter is not applicable to any regional or minority languages in Liechtenstein, the Committee has not considered it necessary to perform its normal information gathering procedures to the same extent as it has done in relation to other Parties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2 Findings of the Committee

The Committee compliments Liechtenstein on the commitment and European solidarity it has demonstrated by ratifying the Charter.

The Committee has concluded that, in the light of the particular situation whereby in Liechtenstein no regional or minority languages are spoken on its territory, it will not propose to the Committee of Ministers to forward any recommendations to the Principality of Liechtenstein.

The Committee would be glad if the Committee of Ministers would express to the Government of Liechtenstein its appreciation of the valuable contribution it has made to the protection and promotion of regional or minority languages in Europe by its ratification and active contribution to the promotion of the Charter.

 

The government of Liechtenstein was invited to comment on the content of this report in accordance with Article 16.3 of the Charter. No comments were sent to the Council of Europe Secretariat.

The Committee of Experts did not submit any proposals to the Committee of Ministers for recommendations to be addressed to Liechtenstein.

The Committee of Ministers examined the present report on 5 September 2001.

 

APPENDIX I

 

 

INSTRUMENT OF RATIFICATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Liechtenstein :



Declaration contained in the instrument of ratification deposited on 18 November 1997 - Or. Fr.

The Principality of Liechtenstein declares in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 2, and in accordance with Article 3, paragraph 1, of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of 5 November 1992, that there are no regional or minority languages in the sense of the Charter in the territory of the Principality of Liechtenstein at the time of ratification.
Period covered: 01/03/98 -    
The preceding statement concerns Article(s): 2, 3