EU: Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers

[Harold F. Schiffman]

Recommendation RecChL(2007)2 of the Committee of Ministers on the
application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages by
the United Kingdom

(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 14 March 2007
at the 989th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)

The Committee of Ministers,

In accordance with Article 16 of the European Charter for Regional or
Minority Languages;

Having regard to the declarations submitted by the United Kingdom on 27
March 2001, 11 March 2003 and 22 April 2003;

Having taken note of the evaluation made by the Committee of Experts of
the Charter with respect to the application of the Charter by the United
Kingdom;

Bearing in mind that this evaluation is based on information submitted by
the United Kingdom in its second periodical report, supplementary
information given by the United Kingdom authorities, information submitted
by bodies and associations legally established in the United Kingdom and
the information obtained by the Committee of Experts during its
on-the-spot visit;

Having taken note of the comments made by the United Kingdom authorities
on the contents of the Committee of Experts' report;

Recommends that the authorities of the United Kingdom take account of all
the observations of the Committee of Experts and, as a matter of priority:

1. elaborate and implement a comprehensive Scottish Gaelic language
education policy;

2. develop a comprehensive Irish language policy, including measures to
meet the increasing demand for Irish-medium education;

3. develop further Welsh-medium education, in particular, take steps to
improve linguistic continuity in the transition from primary to secondary
level in Welsh-speaking areas, and establish a co-ordinated approach to
monitoring progress achieved in developing Welsh-medium education;

4. increase support for the printed media in Scottish Gaelic and Irish;

5. take further measures to ensure that health and social care facilities
offer services in Welsh;

6. strengthen the efforts to improve the position of Scots and Ulster
Scots.

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