13-11-2008

Knowledge of neighbour languages among children and young people in the Nordic countries to be improved

The Nordic Council's Session gave the green light to the continuation of reorganisation of the Nordic language co-operation. A new structure, that opens the door for an extensive co-operation between the key bodies not least in the field of education and culture, as well as children and youth organisations, will come into force on the 1st of January 2009. The responsibility of the ministers of education is going to be more distinct and more attention is going to be focused on better language understanding amongst children and young people.

Fundamental to the Nordic co-operation

- The Scandinavian languages are fundamental to the Nordic co-operation. As far as possible, we should use our own languages in inter-Nordic communication, says the new Secretary General for the Nordic Council of Ministers  Halldór Ásgrimsson.

It is mainly Finns and Icelanders who have problems with the Scandinavian languages, but also Swedes and Danes encounter difficulties in understanding each other. Nordic residents have the right to acquire an understanding of and skills in a Scandinavian language so that they can take part in the Nordic language community.

National efforts are required in order to improve language understanding amongst children and young people. The responsibility for the implementation of the Language Policy Declaration is national.

Edited by Tarja Terävä tarja.terava@nifin.helsinki.fi

Nordic Council of Ministers' language co-operation (in Danish)

Declaration on a Nordic Language Policy