0.6.4.1. Resolution on "regional and minority languages "Lyon October 2000

Eng: http://www.are-regions-europe.org/COMMUN/A211a1.html

"We, the Ministers for Culture of the Regions of Europe recognise the regional or minority languages,
spoken in our regions, as an integral and rich part of Europe's cultural heritage.
We pledge ourselves to the conservation and development of these languages and the relevant
cultures.
To this end we propose to:

1. Ensure that these languages are effectively taught in schools within our regions and make
provision for their use as mediums of instruction because it is the best guarantee for learning
them;

2. Facilitate and guarantee their use in regional parliaments and assemblies by providing
interpretation and translation facilities when necessary;

3. Make adequate provision for their use in the administrative affairs of the regions, by ensuring
ample staffing arrangements to enable members of the public to use these languages in their
dealings with the regional authorities, and by using these languages in public signage.

4. Make provision for the display, in regional languages, of local street names, place names and
other topographical indications intended for the public.

5. Encourage and facilitate the regional languages in the printed media, radio and television;

6. With regard to cultural activities and expression (e.g. libraries, video libraries, cultural centres,
theatre) to encourage and facilitate the use of the regional languages alongside the major state
language;

7.With regard to social care facilities (e.g. hospitals, retirement homes, centres for the physically
or mentally handicapped) to ensure that the regional languages may be used without
impediment;

8. Share relevant information and experience with other European regions and, where appropriate,
cooperate with them in joint linguistic and cultural ventures;

9. Support the work of the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages and in particular its
"Partnership for Diversity" initiative, which aims at facilitating and developing cooperation
among European regions in the field of regional languages and cultures.

10. Ask the AER to instruct its secretariat, in association with other organisations and agencies,
active in this field, to organise a major interregional event, which, as part of the European Year
of Languages activities, would highlight the importance and richness of regional languages and
would develop wider cooperation among different regional authorities.

Nyon, 26 October 2000 DOR/FS-dm
Adopted by the Conference with majority.
vote against: Vlaanderen
abstentions: Emilia-Romagna, Limburg
Belgique/Belgie (B): Communauté Wallonie-Bruxelles, Vlaanderen - Bundesrepublik Deutschland
(D): Niedersachsen - Danmark (DK): Fyn, København - España (E): Canarias, Catalunya, Comunidad
Valenciana, Illes Balears, La Rioja, Region de Murcia - France (F): Alsace, Languedoc-Roussillon,
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur - Hrvatska (HR): Dubrovnik and Neretwa, Istra - Italia (I): Bozen-Südtirol,
Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardia, Molise, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige,
Veneto - Magyarorszag (H): Baranya, Bekes, Györ-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Pest,
Somogy - Nederland (NL): Flevoland, Friesland, Limburg - Norge (N): Buskerud, Vestfold -Österreich
(A): Niederösterreich, Salzburg, Tirol, Vorarlberg - Polska (PL): Zachodniopomorskie -Portugal
(P): Algarve, Centro, Madeira - Romania (RO): Alba, Arad, Arges, Brasov, Caras-Severin,
Dolj, Salãj, Timis, Tulcea - Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera (CH): Aargau, Genève, Luzern, St. Gallen,
Valais, Vaud - Suomi/Finland (FIN): Etelä-Karjala, Etelä-Pohjanmaa, Etelä-Savo, Häme, Kainuu,
Päijät-Häme, Pohjanmaa, Uusimaa - Sverige (S): Gävleborg, Örebro, Skane, Sörmland, Uppsala,
Värmland, Västernorrland - Ukrajina (UKR): Odessa - United Kingdom (GB): Denbighshire, Devon,
Gloucestershire, Hampshire"