Statement of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic for Human Rights and National Minorities Rudolf Chmel on Opinion of the Council of Europe's Venice Commission

Opinion of the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe's most important advisory body on constitutional matters and international law is clearly critical towards the Act on State Language, especially towards the amendments adopted during the Robert Fico´s government. This Opinion of the Venice Commission was requested by the authorities of the Slovak Republic in 2009, this is why it should be taken into account henceforward. The Venice Commission confirms my former opinion, that the Act on State Language is disproportionate and discriminates the national minorities. The Opinion underlines the fact that the Slovak language is not endangered by the languages of national minorities, therefore there is no need to protect it by radical measures.

      Although there are some positive changes in the amendments of the Act recently submitted to the National Council of the Slovak Republic, it is still not in accordance with the Opinion of the Venice Commission. I hope the Opinion would be an impulse for further revision of the Act on State Language. The Venice Commission suggests to examine and revise those provisions of the Act which disproportionately restrict the use of language of national minorities. The protection and promotion of the official language of the state pursues legitimate aims. However according to the Opinion requiring the use of official language in areas where the persons belonging to national minorities have a majority position without any exceptions is inadequate in respect to freedom of speech and protection of rights of national minorities. The Venice Commission finds that certain provisions of the Act are incompatible with the international obligations which the Slovak Republic has undertaken. The above mentioned facts are reasons enough so that the MPs of the the National Council of the Slovak Republic think in terms of the opportunities of further revision of the amendments of the Act recently submitted to adopt by the Slovak Parliament.

 

Bratislava, 26. 10. 2010