Article 9 of the Framework Convention
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Strasbourg, 4 July 2011 Working document Public SECRETARIAT OF THE FRAMEWORK CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATIONAL MINORITIES COMPILATION OF OPINIONS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE RELATING TO ARTICLE 9 OF THE FRAMEWORK CONVENTION FIRST CYCLE “Article 9 1. The Parties undertake to recognise that the right to freedom of expression of every person belonging to a national minority includes freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas in the minority language, without interference by public authorities and regardless of frontiers. The Parties shall ensure, within the framework of their legal systems, that persons belonging to a national minority are not discriminated against in their access to the media. 2. Paragraph 1 shall not prevent Parties from requiring the licensing, without discrimination and based on objective criteria, of sound radio and television broadcasting, or cinema enterprises. 3. The Parties shall not hinder the creation and the use of printed media by persons belonging to national minorities. In the legal framework of sound radio and television broadcasting, they shall ensure, as far as possible, and taking into account the provisions of paragraph 1, that persons belonging to national minorities are granted the possibility of creating and using their own media. 4. In the framework of their legal systems, the Parties shall adopt adequate measures in order to facilitate access to the media for persons belonging to national minorities and in order to promote tolerance and permit cultural pluralism. Note: this document was produced as a working document only and does not contain footnotes. For publication purposes, please refer to the original opinions. ACFC I - Art 9 – July 2011 Table of contents 1. Albania ........................................................................................................................... 3 2. Armenia .......................................................................................................................... 4 3. Austria ............................................................................................................................ 7 4. Azerbaijan....................................................................................................................... 8 5. Bosnia and Herzegovina.................................................................................................. 9 6. Bulgaria ........................................................................................................................ 10 7. Croatia.......................................................................................................................... 11 8. Cyprus .......................................................................................................................... 13 9. Czech Republic ............................................................................................................. 13 10. Denmark ....................................................................................................................... 14 11. Estonia.......................................................................................................................... 14 12. Finland.......................................................................................................................... 15 13. Georgia ......................................................................................................................... 15 14. Germany ....................................................................................................................... 19 15. Hungary........................................................................................................................ 20 16. Ireland .......................................................................................................................... 21 17. Italy .............................................................................................................................. 22 18. Kosovo ......................................................................................................................... 23 19. Latvia............................................................................................................................ 24 20. Liechtenstein................................................................................................................. 27 21. Lithuania....................................................................................................................... 27 22. Malta ............................................................................................................................ 28 23. Moldova........................................................................................................................ 28 24. Montenegro................................................................................................................... 29 25. Netherlands................................................................................................................... 31 26. Norway......................................................................................................................... 32 27. Poland........................................................................................................................... 33 28. Portugal ........................................................................................................................ 34 29. Romania........................................................................................................................ 35 30. Russian Federation........................................................................................................ 35 31. San Marino ................................................................................................................... 37 32. Serbia and Montenegro ................................................................................................. 37 33. Slovak Republic............................................................................................................ 39 34. Slovenia........................................................................................................................ 40 35. Spain............................................................................................................................. 42 36. Sweden ......................................................................................................................... 43 37. Switzerland ................................................................................................................... 44 38. “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” ............................................................ 45 39. Ukraine......................................................................................................................... 47 40. United Kingdom............................................................................................................ 49 2 ACFC I - Art 9 – July 2011 1. ALBANIA The Advisory Committee notes that freedom of expression is guaranteed under Article 22 of the Constitution of Albania and that The Law on the Press amended by Law No 8239, dated 3.09.1997 has only one article saying that “The press is free. Freedom of press is respected by law”. The Advisory Committee also notes that Law No 8410, dated 30.09.1998 on Public and Private Radio Television in the Republic of Albania guarantees to national minorities access to the electronic media, allowing broadcasting in minority languages under Article 37. The Advisory Committee also notes that no limit is placed on the ratio of broadcasting of minority languages. The Advisory Committee notes, however, that there are plans to introduce changes in the media legislative framework. In this respect the Advisory Committee notes that a draft law on the freedom of the press was prepared, but not followed up upon, in view of negative comments from both domestic and international sources. Furthermore, the Advisory Committee understands that a new draft law on broadcasting will be proposed in the near future. The Advisory Committee considers it important that the adoption of new legislation in this field should facilitate access to the media for persons belonging to national minorities, in accordance with Article 9 paragraph 2 of the Framework Convention, and encourages the authorities to ensure that adequate consultation is carried out with all concerned persons, including those belonging to national minorities, in the preparation of new legislation. In relation to the printed media, the Advisory Committee notes that persons belonging to national minorities in Albania have their own, albeit limited, printed media, and that while much of this media is published regularly, there are no Albanian daily newspapers in minority languages for persons belonging to national minorities. The Advisory Committee notes, however, that foreign media is available in the country in a number of minority languages. Notwithstanding that the possibility of State assistance for the media, in one form or another, may be limited, the Advisory Committee considers that the authorities should examine how assistance to minority media may be strengthened. In relation to sound radio and television broadcasting, the Advisory Committee notes that while there are a very limited number of programmes broadcast for national minorities, such