Part II sets out the main principles and objectives upon which States must base their policies, legislation and practice, and which are regarded as providing the necessary framework for the preservation of the languages concerned.
The eight fundamental principles and objectives are as follows:

• Recognition of regional or minority languages as an expression of cultural wealth.
• Respect for the geographical area of each regional or minority language.
• The need for resolute action to promote such languages.
• The facilitation and/or encouragement of the use of such languages, in speech and writing, in public and private life.
• The provision of appropriate forms and means for the teaching and study of such languages at all appropriate stages.
• The promotion of relevant transnational exchanges.
• The prohibition of all forms of unjustified distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference relating to the use of a regional or minority language and intended to discourage or endanger its maintenance or development.
• The promotion by states of mutual understanding between all the country’s linguistic groups. More...

The demographic situation of the languages covered by the Charter differs treatly and they exist in a very wide range of (social, political and economic) contexts. Accordingly, the system of undertakings adopted for the Charter makes it possible to adapt the scope of the protection afforded to suit the particular situation of each language, and also to take account of the costs of application. The Charter is divided into two main parts, a general one containing the principles applicable to all the Parties and all regional or minority languages (Part II), and a second part which lays down specific practical commitments which may vary according to the state and the language (Part III). More...

The Charter does not establish a list of European languages corresponding to the concept of regional or minority languages, but defines (in Article 1) the terms used.
As defined by the Charter, “regional or minority languages” are languages traditionally used within a given territory of a state by nationals of that state who form a group numerically smaller than the rest of the state’s population; they are different from the official language(s) of that state, and they include neither dialects of the official language(s) of the state nor the languages of migrants. More...

The Charter is a convention designed on the one hand to protect and promote regional and minority languages as a threatened aspect of Europe’s cultural heritage and on the other hand to enable speakers of a regional or minority language to use it in private and public life. Its overriding purpose is cultural. It covers regional and minority languages, non-territorial languages and less widely used official languages.
First and foremost, the Charter sets out the main objectives and principles that states undertake to apply to all regional or minority languages existing within their national territory.
Secondly, the Charter contains a series of concrete measures designed to facilitate and encourage the use of specific regional or minority languages in public life.
Within its scope are the languages traditionally used within a state’s territory, but it does not cover those connected with recent migratory movements or dialects of the official language. More...

Among the fundamental aims of the Council of Europe today are the protection and promotion of the wealth and diversity of Europe’s cultural heritage. Regional or minority languages are very much part of this heritage. Since 1992, Council of Europe’s Member States have been able to confirm their commitment to the protection of this heritage by ratifying the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
The Charter, drawn up on the basis of a text put forward by the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, was adopted as a convention on 25 June 1992 by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and was opened for signature in Strasbourg on 5 November 1992. It entered into force on 1 March 1998.
At present, the Charter has been ratified by twenty-five states (Armenia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom). Another eight states have signed it, some of which are expected to ratify soon.
Text of the Charter. More...

По инициативе Совета Европы, с штаб квартирой в Страсбурге, Европейский день языков отмечается ежегодно с 2001 года 26- ого  сентября.
По случаю дня языков , целый ряд мероприятий организовывается по всей Европе: мероприятия для детей, теле и радио программы, языковые курсы конференции. Национальным органам и различным партнёрaм предоставляют полную свободу в организации мероприятий. Для координации мероприятий, организованных на национальном уровне, Совет Европы просит стран-участниц назначить национальные контакты. More...

Per iniciativa del Consell d’Europa a Estrasburg, el Dia Europeu de les Llengües se celebra, des de 2001, el 26 de setembre de cada any.
En ocasió del Dia Europeu de les Llengües, s’organitzen una gran varietat d’esdeveniments en tot el continent: activitats amb xiquets i per a xiquets, programes de televisió i ràdio, cursos de llengua i conferències. Les autoritats nacionals i altres socis tenen llibertat per a organitzar qualsevol tipus d’activitat. El Consell d’Europa demana a cada un dels països participants que nominen un contacte nacional que coordinarà les activitats d’aquest dia organitzades en l’àmbit nacional. More...

Estrasburgoko Europako Kontseiluaren ekimenez, 2001etik aurrera irailaren 26an ospatu da urtero Hizkuntzen Europako Eguna.
Egun hori dela-eta, ekitaldi ugari antolatzen dira kontinente osoan: haurrekin eta haurrentzat egiteko moduko jarduerak, telebista- eta irrati-saioak, hizkuntza-ikastaroak eta hitzaldiak. Agintari nazionalek eta gainerako bazkideek edozein jarduera-mota antolatzeko aukera dute. Europako Kontseiluak parte hartzen duten herrialdeei eskatzen die “Kontaktu Nazional” bat izenda dezatela, egun hori dela-eta, maila nazionalean antolatutako jarduera guztiak koordina ditzan. More...

Eiropas Valodu diena ir Eiropas Padomes (Strasbūrā) iniciatīva un kopš 2001. gada tiek svinēta 26. septembrī.
Par godu šai dienai Eiropā tiek organizēts daudz dažādu pasākumu: tiek rīkotas aktivitātes bērniem ar viņu aktīvu līdzdalību, televīzijas un radio pārraides, valodu klases un konferences. Arī valsts iestādēm un to sadarbības partneriem ir neierobežotas iespējas organizēt daudzveidīgus pasākumus. Lai EVD norisi koordinētu valstu līmenī, Eiropas Padome lūdz dalībvalstis izvirzīt nacionālo kontaktinstitūciju jeb un/vai kontaktpersonu. More...

ევროპის საბჭოს (სტრასბურგი) ინიციატივით ენების ევროპული დღე 2001 წლიდან  ყოველწლიურად  აღინიშნება 26 სექტემბერს.
ამ დღესთან დაკავშირებით ევროპის მასშტაბით ეწყობა სხვადასხვა სახის ღონისძიებები: აქტივობები  ბავშვებისათვის და ბავშვებთან ერთად, სატელევიზიო და რადიოპროგრამები, ენის გაკვეთილები და კონფერენციები. ეროვნულ მთავრობებსა და სხვა პარტნიორებს შეუძლიათ ამ ზეიმის ფარგლებში კიდევ სხვა ღონისძიებების მოფიქრება და ორგანიზება. ეროვნულ დონეზე მომზადებული აქტივობების კოორდინაციის მიზნით, ევროპის საბჭო სთხოვს მონაწილე ქვეყნებს, რომ ენების ევროპულ დღეს ჰყავდეს "ეროვნული საკონტაქტო პირი“. More...