Slovak Language Act

EDM number 1012 in 2010-12, proposed by Hywel Williams on 16/11/2010.
Categorised under the topics of Eastern Europe and Legislative process.

That this House notes the findings of the European Commission for Democracy through Law, also known as the Venice Commission, regarding the Slovak Republic 2009 State Language Act, that provisions regarding the obligation to use the state language in official communication in areas where the minority population does not reach the threshold of 20 per cent., the duty for private persons to use the official language in contacts with the authorities, the obligation to use the state language in judicial proceedings, administrative proceedings and proceedings before law-enforcement authorities if one has sufficient command of it and the non-recognition of contracts drafted in minority languages, should be revised as they are incompatible with the international obligations which the Slovak Republic has undertaken, and that further provisions of the Act, including the rules on television broadcasting, the duty to use the state language in cultural activities, the duty to use the state language in the Armed Forces, Armed Corps and Fire Brigades, the duty to use the state language in documents and written statements with legal effect in employment and other working relations should be revised to avoid disproportionate impact; and calls on the Slovak Republic to ensure that the State Language Act properly recognises and protects minority languages and their speakers.

This motion has been signed by a total of 11 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.