Information on Burgenland Croats
I. History And Settlement Area
The ethnic group of "Croats from Burgenland"
is represented today in three countries: in
Members of the Croatian ethnic group live in six out of seven political
districts in Burgenland. Only in the southernmost
part of the province, in the district of Jennerdorf,
there are no Croatian or mixed communities. In none of those districts ethnic
Croats are a majority, from a relative point of view, most ethnic Croats live
in the district of Oberpullendorf and in absolute
figures most of them live in the district of Eisenstadt.
All six districts have Croatian "language islands" which themselves
are intermingled with German speaking communities. Only the
district of Oberpullendorf and in part the district
of Eisenstadt show a more or less compact ethnic
Croatian respectively an increasingly bilingual speaking area. There are
no more 100 percent ethnic Croatian speaking communities; the largest ethnic
Croatian speaking populace can be found in smaller communities (500 to 1500
inhabitants, 80 percent to 95percent Croats) in the district of Oberpullendorf.
A major part of the ethnic group has settled, above all on economic
grounds (lack of jobs in Burgenland), in
II. Figures And Development
In 1991 there were in Burgenland, according to
official statistic data, 19.460 people who declared that their native language
is Croatian or that Croatian is their spoken language. In
III. Social Situation of the Ethnic Group
Regarding their social integration the members of the ethnic group do
not differ at all from the average inhabitant of Burgenland.
They participate in the social life as well as any other member of the
majority. As regards the labor market, the ethnic Croats are as integrated as
any citizen from Burgenland.
However, it should be stressed at this point that many people from Burgenland have to commute for professional reasons into
the large agglomeration areas (
But this fact reflects more on the members of the ethnic group since it
is very rare that they can use their native language on the job. This
consequence has a very negative impact on the use of their native language and
hence their language competence. More often then not, it is possible to speak
Croatian only privately, at home with your family, among friends, in the
village in, etc. Those circumstances, the increasing mobility and the growing
influence of mass media largely restrict the area in which one can speak still
Croatian.
The continuing advance of assimilation:
The ethnic group is in a continuous decline, especially the kids and the
adolescents speak less and less Croatian. Even those who still speak Croatian
find that their linguistic competence is generally declining.
IV. Support and Perspectives
In order to improve the position of the Croatian ethnic group, the
following measures need to be taken urgently:
Redress the inadequacies in the educational system from the kindergarten
to the university;
Meet the Art. 7 of the State Treaty of Vienna in the sense and in cooperation
with the ethnic group;
Remove the restrictive, partially even detrimental Ethnic Group Act 1976
and create new provisions that would protect ethnic groups;
Create a climate favorable for ethnic groups, beyond all soapbox
speeches and lip service. Members of an ethnic group can be motivated only in
an adequate environment to profess to their ethnic group language, to use it
and to pass it on to their descendants.
Collective Rights
1. Own Organization and Representation
a) Ethnic Group Organization
According to Art. 7 Z.1 of the State Treaty of Vienna, ethnic
Croats have the right to their own organizations. There are many associations
with supraregional importance.
Croatian Cultural Association in Gradišce (Hrvatsko kulturno društvo u Gradišću - HKD), Eisenstadt: in terms of figures the largest and oldest
organization of ethnic Croats, culturally taking care of the Croatian-speaking
populace, representation in matters regarding ethnic group policies.
Cultural Association of Ethnic Croats from Burgenland
in
Ethnic Croatian Press Association (Hrvatsko štamparsko društvo - HŠtD), Eisenstadt. Publisher of a Croatian weekly and other publications
in Croatian.
Ethnic Croatian Academic Club (Hrvatski akademski klub - HAK), Vienna-Eisenstadt.
Ethnic Croatian Cultural and
Adult Education Center of Ethnic Croats from Burgenland (Narodna visoka škola Gradišcanskih
Hrvatov - HNVŠ), Eisenstadt.
Association for the Education of Ethnic Croats
from Burgenland (Društvo za obrazovanje Gradišcanskih Hrvatov - DOGH), Trausdorf.
ZORA Association of Ethnic Croats – Pedagogues - from Burgenland (ZORA Društvo Gradišcanskih pedagogov), Eisenstadt.
Scientific
Presidium of the Austrian Socialist Party Mandatories from Croatian and Mixed Ethnic Communities in Burgenland (Prezidij SPÖ-mandatarov iz hrvatskih
i mišanojezicnih opcin u Gradišcu), Eisenstadt.
Working Community of Ethnic Croatian Politicians in Burgenland
(Djelatna zajednica hrvatskih politicarov u Gradišcu - DZ ), Kroatisch Geresdorf. People’s Party
counterpart to the Presidium
Pannonian Institute (Panonski institut - PAIN), Güttenbach.
Cultural Co-operative (Kulturna
zadruga - KUGA), Großwarasdorf.
Nearly all ethnic Croatian or mixed community has today an "tamburica" group. Croatian
folklore and tamburizza music is very popular even
with the majority populace and also known over the borders of
b) Ethnic Groups Council
The provisions of the ethnic groups Council for ethnic Croats can be
found in the ethnic Groups Act 1976 and the pertaining Regulation.
The Ethnic Groups Council shall serve as an advisory body to the Federal
and Local Government in matters of ethnic groups and draw up an annual budget
proposal for the distribution of funds earmarked for a certain ethnic group.
With the constitution of the advisory body, the ethnic group has the
possibility to tap larger amounts of funds. It is therefore understandable that
this is also the reason or the only reason why all associations and especially
the large political parties want to be represented as well as possible in the
body.
Out of 24 seats, the SPÖ and the ÖVP hold at the moment 5 seats and the
Catholic Church two seats ("party curia ").
In the so-called "impartial curia" 4 more seats are taken by
organizations close to the parties respectively by party organizations. The
remaining 8 seats are taken by associations which can not be linked to any
party and which are not obliged to follow any parliamentary party instructions.
Therefore, de facto the Socialist Party has 8 votes and the People’s Party six
votes in the Ethnic Groups Council.
2. Bilingual Topographic Inscriptions
According to Art. 7 Z. 3 of the State Treaty of Vienna, ethnic
Croats from Burgenland have the right to use
bilingual topographic inscriptions in areas of Burgenland
with an ethnic Croatian or mixed population. According to the Ethnic Groups Act
1976 this right is given in areas where the figure of the ethnic population reaches
a proportionate amount of (25%) of the populace.
Bilingual place signs were put up in 47 communities respectively parts
of villages in July 2000. However, bilingual signposts, directional signs and
other topographic indications of public nature which fall under the category of
topographic signs are still missing.
Several years ago, some communities have already put up bilingual street
names and directional signs. However those fall within the jurisdiction of the
community or are the result of a private initiative.
3. Media Coverage
It not necessary to explain in detail the
importance of media in an information society. A minority and its language are especially effected when shortcomings in this field prevail. More often
then not, media products from
In the field of printed media, ethnic Croats issue the following
periodicals:
Croatian Weekly (Hrvatske Novine):
publisher: Ethnic Croatian Press Association. The newspaper is published on
Fridays on 16 to 28 pages. The newspaper is at a large extend
written in ethnic Croatian but some articles are also regularly written in
standard Croatian. The coverage concentrates on the situation and the problems
of ethnic Croats from Burgenland, but covers
regularly also other ethnic groups in
Church Courier (Crikveni Glasnik),
published by the Archdiocese Eisenstadt, Pastoral
Office, Croatian Section, published weekly on 8 pages,
occasionally as a double edition in color. The editor in chief is the
corresponding Head of the Croatian Section with the Pastoral Office of the
Archdiocese Eisenstadt; there are two additional
editorial employees and numerous volunteers. The Courier ("Glasnik", i.e. Bote) is the
Croatian communications and information organ of the Archdiocese Eisenstadt.
Glasilo: Organ of the Ethnic Croatian Cultural Association (Hrvatsko
Kulturno Društvo), published quarterly on 12 to 20 pages in color. Published
and edited by association’ s members of the Board. The organ reports on
events in ethnic Croatian communities and mixed communities, concerns and
problems of ethnic groups in
New Voice (Novi Glas): The association organ
of the Ethnic Croatian Academic Club (HAK/Kroatischer
Akedemikerklub) published quarterly in variable scope
(approximately 40 pages). The editorial staff consists of association’s members of
the Board. Topics: minority policies in general and especially with regard to
ethnic Croats from Burgenland, Croatian literature, students respectively adolescent topics, socio-political and cultural issues. Languages:
ethnic Croatian, Croatian, German English (sometimes). Novi Glas
sees itself as a discussion forum of ethnic Croatians from Burgenland.
It attempts to show current issues in the field of minority policies, culture,
science and language in a controversial way.
The Way (Put): Association Gazette of the Ethnic Croatian Cultural
Association in
Burgenland Calendar (Gradišce Kalendar):
Published by the Ethnic Croatian Press Association annually, at the being of
the year. The edition has approximately 300 pages in A-5 size. Contents:
calendar of feasts and memorial days, literature and belles-lettres, history,
biographies, articles on linguistics and social sciences.
Pannonian Almanac (Panonska ljetna
knjiga): Published by the Pannonian
Institute, annually on approximately 500 pages. The editor in chief is the
Chairman of the Pannonian Institute. Contents:
articles on important historic events and jubilees, texts on exhibitions,
articles about nations and ethnic groups in the Pannonian
area.
Until the constitution of the Ethnic Groups Council, the associations
had very little funds for the publishing of books. With the set up of the
Ethnic Groups Council further associations were established and funds were
available for various projects. The scope of projects encompasses scientific
works on literature, monographs, various technical books up to children’s and
picture books, comics, CD and videotapes.
Broadcasts of the Austrian Broadcasting Company ORF are emitted daily
through the regional program, except on Sundays, from 12, 43 until 12,45 o’ clock (news) and from 18,20 until 19,00 o’clock. At the begin of the
70-ties Croatian radio broadcasts were introduced by the ORF and continuously
extended from 20 minutes/week to
present broadcast times.
Contents: daily 2 and 10 minutes news, 30 minutes according to week-day
of various focal points dealing with reports on culture, broadcasts for
children and youths, interviews, musical request program. The broadcasts intend
to provide the ethnic group with information from all walks of life. The
contents of information should correspond to the general duties of the ORF.
The only TV-broadcast in Croatian is titled "Hello, Croats"
("Dobar dan, Hrvati", i.e. Guten Tag, Kroaten) and is emitted through the regional program each
Sunday from 13,30 until 14,00 o’clock (re-runs
on each Monday from 01,
Internet: most associations and organizations of ethnic Croats from Burgenland have an Internet address. Some have even home
pages that contain important information about the association but also on the
ethnic group in general.
4. Contacts with the Parent Country
There were always contacts with
The contents of those contacts was and still is primarily cultural
cooperation in the particularly in the interests of the ethnic group (various
language courses in Croatia, exchange of theatre and folklore groups, writers
and other artists, support in the publishing of books, etc.).
Economic relations are limited to a few joint projects. In this field,
the ethnic group has a need to improve this situation.
In addition to official contacts there are of course many private
contacts. Very intensive contacts were established primarily through and on the
subject of folklore. Even during the war on the Balkans, during which the
ethnic Croats from Burgenland engaged themselves in
humanitarian aid (all sorts of collections, accommodation of refugees), many
private friendships were made.
5. Ethnic Group Funding
The Ethnic Group Act contains provisions on the funding of ethnic
groups. The amount of the annual ethnic group funding is determined through the
federal budget.
Cultural activities of ethnic Croats from Burgenland
are co-funded by the local government in the amount of one percent of the
overall federal budget for culture. The most important
funding authority for the ethnic Croats in the Office of the Federal Chancellor
(S 16 millions per year). The Ethnic Groups Council is the only
authorized body to make an allocation proposal with regard to those funds; the
Office of the Federal Chancellor. regularly adopts the
proposal.
Individual Rights
1. Education
According to Article 7 Z.2 of the Austrian State Treaty, ethnic Croats
from Burgenland have the right to receive primary
education in the native language and to a proportionate number of own secondary
school. Detailed provisions are contained in the Educational Act for Minorities
for Burgenland.
a) Primary School
In September 1994 a new Act became effective for Burgenland
regarding the "Educational Act for Minorities " (Official Gazette
202/1994) which is characterized by dedicated teachers as "the begin of
the end of the bilingual educational system in Burgenland
". The major inadequacies of this Act regarding teaching in primary
schools are:
Parents have the possibility to withdraw at any time their child from
bilingual classes in schools which are traditionally bilingual. Parents can put
teachers under pressure ("If my child gets weak grades, I‘ ll just
withdraw him/her from the bilingual class "). According to the view of
educational authorities in Burgenland, children who
are withdrawn from bilingual classes are subject to the "normal"
(single language) curriculum.
The Act should have defined at least the minimal requirements for the
use of Croatian, a minimal language level or a teaching goal to be achieved. It
would be ideal for the preservation of the language if there were obligatory
bilingual classes in traditionally bilingual areas.
The Act is criticized by many ethnic Croatian organizations. A
scientific study criticizes the Act on grounds of numerous provisions, which
are detrimental to ethnic groups and because of its inconsistency. Known
lawyers have stated that the Act is unconstitutional, but so far politicians
have failed to make up their minds whether to go through with amendments or
not.
The only positive point in the new Act is the provision according to
which schools which so far didn’t have any bilingual classes can form
now bilingual pre-school groups
(up from four enrollments), pre-school classes (up from seven enrollments) and
classes from the 1st to the 4th grade (up from seven enrollments). This
provision took into account a ruling of the
b) Grammar School
Bilingual grammar schools respectively classes which operated so far on
an experimental level were put now on a legal basis. Additionally, several
grammar schools offer Croatian as an elective instruction subject.
c) Secondary General Education Schools
The Act provides the establishment of one secondary general education
school (secondary school or secondary school with scientific bias). School
experiments with bilingual classes on other AHS schools in Burgenland
were not considered. They remain experiments, which will continue exclusively
on the basis of the good will of the minister in charge.
If one considers the geographical situation of Burgenland,
it is evident that hardly no one from Neudorf or even Oslip (in
northern Burgenland) is going to attend the bilingual
secondary school in Oberwart.
Article 7 provides for a "proportionate number of own secondary
schools ". While for example ethnic Slovenes in
2. Kindergarten
The Kindergarten Act of Burgenland (Official
Gazette of the Province 35/1995) provides for bilingual kindergarten.
Today, a kindergarten is in most cases the first place on which the
children are confronted with the importance of language and the ability to
master it. This is where the path is prepared for the linguistic development of
children. If in a bilingual kindergarten both languages are not used with the
approximately same value (games, songs, instructions from the nanny, etc.), the
child will feel subconsciously that one language is more important, better,
more beautiful, etc. A language, which is used seldom, for a short period of
time or only in certain situations, is thought of as being inferior and will be
even rejected in extreme cases. When a child forms such an opinion it is only
with great effort and consequent persuasion that his/her attitude can be corrected
again.
The Kindergarten Act for Burgenland declares
kindergarten in certain communities as bilingual kindergartens. The language of
the ethnic group is "kindergarten language" in addition to the German
language. Parents may, again, withdraw their children. In other kindergartens
in Burgenland ethnic Croatian can be accepted as
"kindergarten language" if so demanded by 25 percent of parents with
Austrian citizenship. If a bilingual kindergarten does not have at least one
kindergartner who speaks the language of the ethnic group, the provincial
government has to appoint an assistant kindergartner. The language of the
ethnic group must be used in the necessary scope, at least six hours per week , at best one hour per day. According to the law,
"the kindergarten has the duty to contribute to language learning " and "bearing especially in mind the linguistic
and cultural diversity of the
In the daily business of kindergartens, the amount of the use ethnic
Croatian as "kindergarten language" depends primarily on the speaking
ability of the kindergartner and his/her personal involvement. If the
kindergartner speaks ethnic Croatian at all , depends
on the decision of the City Council or the mayor. In some kindergartens ethnic
Croatian is spoken and children play in this languages
while in others they learn just some ethnic Croatian songs or poems.
Many parents try at least at home to prevent the linguistic assimilation
of their children, but many settle just for the assimilation and thus take away
the chance from their children to learn through play two languages at the same
time.
3. Official Language
According to 7 Z.3 of the State Treaty of Vienna, the ethnic Croats from
Burgenland who live in a community with ethnic
Croatian or mixed populace, have the right to use ethnic Croatian as official
language..
According to the regulation on "Specification of Courts,
Administrative Bodies and other Bodies at which, in addition to the German
language, ethnic Croatian can be used as official Language" (Official
Language Regulation) ethnic Croatian can be spoken as official language in the
following communities:
Eisenstadt-Surroundings: Hornstein/Vorištan, Klingenbach/Klimpuh, Oslip/Uzlop,
Siegendorf/Cindrof, Steinbrunn-Zillingtal/Štikapron-Celindof,
Trausdorf/Trajštof, Wulkaprodersdorf/Vulkaprodrštof,
Zagersdorf/Cogrštof;
Güssing; Güttenbach/Pinkovac, Neuberg im
Burgenland/Nova Gora, Stinatz/Stinjaki;
Mattersburg: Antau/Otava, Baumgarten/Pajngrt,
Draßburg/Rasporak;
Neusiedl am See: Neudorf/Novo Selo, Pama/Bijelo Selo,
Parndorf/Pandrof;
Oberpullendorf:
Frankenau-Unterpullendorf/Frakanava-Dolnja Pulja, Großwarasdorf/Veliki Borištof, Kaisersdorf/Kalištrof, Kroatisch
Minihof/Mjenovo, Nikitsch/Filež;
Oberwart: Rotenturm
an der Pinka/Verešvar, Schachendorf/Cajta, Schandorf/Cemba, Weiden bei Reichnitz/Bandol.
Many communities in which a substantial number of ethnic Croats is living were not included in the above Regulation, as well
as the capital of the Province Eisenstadt in which
also several hundred ethnic Croats are living.