Spain’s system to protect regional and minority languages is well developed but gaps persist in justice, healthcare and public administration

In a new evaluation report the Council of Europe's Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages concludes that while Spain has a well-developed system for the protection and promotion of its regional and minority languages, further efforts are needed to address the existing gaps to comply with its obligations under the treaty. See the summary of the report in Spanish).

The Spanish Constitution, the Statutes of Autonomy and specific laws provide a general framework for the protection and promotion of regional and minority languages. However, challenging issues continue to be found in the fields of justice, state administration, provision of public services and transfrontier exchanges, which fall under the remit of the Spanish state authorities. These areas often lack the full implementation of the Charter's provisions, particularly in ensuring the right of citizens to use their regional or minority languages in court proceedings, healthcare services, and communication with state institutions.

The use of regional or minority languages in state administration also remains limited in the autonomous communities where regional or minority language are protected. While local and regional administrations often require knowledge of these languages among civil servants, the availability of staff with sufficient language proficiency in state administration is low. The committee stresses that the digitalisation of public services, although beneficial, should not marginalise the use of regional or minority languages.

The report is based on information provided by governmental and non-governmental sources, including information obtained during the Committee's visit to Spain in January 2024. It has been published together with comments from the Spanish authorities.

Press release
Spain's system to protect regional and minority languages is well developed but gaps persist in justice, healthcare and public administration

The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and Spain