EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Chapter 1 - Basic principles of the form of government:

Article 2 (…)The public institutions shall promote the opportunity for all to attain participation and equality in society (...) The public institutions shall combat discrimination of persons on grounds of gender, colour, national or ethnic origin, linguistic or religious affiliation, functional disability, sexual orientation, age or other circumstance affecting the individual. The opportunities of the Sami people and ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities to preserve and develop a cultural and social life of their own shall be promoted;

Chapter 2. Fundamental rights and freedoms

Article 12 No act of law or other provision may imply the unfavourable treatment of anyone because they belong to a minority group by reason of ethnic origin, colour, or other similar circumstances or on account of their sexual orientation.

Section 6 Equality (...) No one shall, without an acceptable reason, be treated differently from other persons on the ground of sex, age, origin, language, religion, conviction, opinion, health, disability or other reason that concerns his or her person. Section 11 Freedom of religion and conscience Everyone has the freedom of religion and conscience. Freedom of religion and conscience entails the right to profess and practice a religion, the right to express one's convictions and the right to be a member of or decline to be a member of a religious community. No one is under the obligation, against his or her conscience, to participate in the practice of a religion. Section 17 Right to one's language and culture The national languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish. The right of everyone to use his or her own language, either Finnish or Swedish, before courts of law and other authorities, and to receive official documents in that language, shall be guaranteed by an Act. The public authorities shall provide for the cultural and societal needs of the Finnish-speaking and Swedish-speaking populations of the country on an equal basis. The Sami, as an indigenous people, as well as the Roma and other groups, have the right to maintain and develop their own language and culture. Provisions on the right of the Sami to use the Sami language before the authorities are laid down by an Act. The rights of persons using sign language and of persons in need of interpretation or translation aid owing to disability shall be guaranteed by an Act.

Article 8.1. The irish language as the national language is the
first official language. Article 8.2. the english language is recognised as a second
official language. Article 8.3. Provision may, however, be made by law for the
exclusive use of either of the said languages for any one or more official purposes, either
throughout the state or in any part thereof. Article 44.1. The state acknowledges that the homage of public worship is due to almighty God. it shall hold his name in reverence, and shall respect and honour religion.
Article 44.2.1. Freedom of conscience and the free profession and practice of religion are, subject to public order and morality, guaranteed to every citizen.
Article 44.2.2. The state guarantees not to endow any religion.
Article 44.2.3 The state shall not impose any disabilities or make any discrimination on the ground of religious profession, belief or status.

Article 5(1) The National language of Malta is the Maltese Language.(2) The Maltese and the English languages and such other language as may be prescribed by Parliament (by a law passed by not less than two-thirds of all the members of the House of Representatives) shall be the official languages of Malta and the Administration may for all official purposes use any of such languages: Provided that any person may address the Administration in any of the official languages and the reply of the Administration thereto shall be in such language.(3) The language of the Courts shall be the Maltese language: Provided that Parliament may make such provision for the use of the English language in such cases and under such conditions as it may prescribe.(4) The House of Representatives may, in regulating its own procedure, determine the language or languages that shall be used in Parliamentary proceedings and records. 8. The State shall promote the development of culture and scientific and technical research.

Article 5 (2) All persons living within the Greek territory shall enjoy full protection of their life, honour and liberty irrespective of nationality, race or language and of religious or political beliefs. Exceptions shall be permitted only in cases provided by international law. [...]

Art. 3. All citizens have equal social dignity and are equal before the law, without distinction of sex, race, language, religion, political opinion, personal and social conditions. (...) Art. 6. The Republic safeguards linguistic minorities by means of appropriate measures. Art. 8. All religious denominations are equally free before the law.
Denominations other than Catholicism have the right to self-organisation according to their own statutes, provided these do not conflict with Italian law.
Their relations with the State are regulated by law, based on agreements with their respective representatives.

Art. 3. Bulgarian shall be the official language of the Republic. Art. 6. (1) All persons are born free and equal in dignity and rights.(2) All citizens shall be equal before the law. There shall be no privileges or restriction of rights on the grounds of race, national or social origin, ethnic self-identity, sex, religion, education, opinion, political affiliation, personal or social status or property status.Art. 11. [...] (4) There shall be no political parties on ethnic, racial or religious lines [...] Art. 13. (1) The practicing of any religion shall be unrestricted.(2) Religious institutions shall be separate from the State.(3) Eastern Orthodox Christianity shall be considered the traditional religion in the Republic of Bulgaria.(4) Religious institutions and communities, and religious beliefs shall not be used to political ends.Art. 36. (1) The study and use of the Bulgarian language shall be a right and an obligation of every Bulgarian citizen.(2) Citizens whose mother tongue is not Bulgarian shall have the right to study and use their own language alongside the compulsory study of the Bulgarian language.(3) The situations in which only the official language shall be used shall be established by law.

Article 15
(1)Equal rights for the members of all national minorities in the Republic of Croatia are guaranteed.
(4)The freedom of the members of all national minorities to express their nationality, to use their language and script, and to exercise cultural autonomy shall be guaranteed.

Article 41
All religious communities shall be equal before the law and clearly separate from the state.
Religious communities shall be free, in compliance with law, to publicly conduct religious services, open schools, academies or other institutions, and welfare and charitable organizations and to manage them, and they shall enjoy the protection and assistance of the state in their activities.

Article 37. (…) Everyone has the right to be taught in Estonian. The language of teaching in national minority educational institutions is chosen by the educational institution. (…)
Article 50. National minorities have the right, in the interests of their culture, to establish self-governing agencies under such conditions and pursuant to such procedure as are provided in the National Minorities Cultural Autonomy Act.
Article 51. Everyone has the right to address government agencies, local authorities, and their officials in Estonian and to receive responses in Estonian.
In localities where at least one half of the permanent residents belong to a national minority, everyone has the right to receive responses from government agencies, local authorities and their officials also in the language of the national minority.
Article 52. The official language of government agencies and local authorities is Estonian.
In localities where the language of the majority of the residents is not Estonian, local authorities may, to the extent and pursuant to a procedure provided by law, use the language of the majority of the permanent residents of the locality as their internal working language.
The use of foreign languages, including the languages of national minorities, in government agencies, in courts and in pre-trial procedure is provided by law.

114. Persons belonging to ethnic minorities have the right to preserve and develop their language and their ethnic and cultural identity.

Article 14. Lithuanian shall be the State language. Article 37. Citizens belonging to ethnic communities shall have the right to foster their language, culture, and customs. Article 43. The State shall recognise the churches and religious organisations that are traditional in Lithuania, whereas other churches and religious organisations shall be recognised provided that they have support in society and their teaching and practices are not in conflict with the law and public morals. The churches and religious organisations recognised by the State shall have the rights of a legal person. Churches and religious organisations shall be free to proclaim their teaching, perform their practices, and have houses of prayer, charity establishments, and schools for the training of the clergy. Churches and religious organisations shall conduct their affairs freely according to their canons and statutes. The status of churches and other religious organisations in the State shall be established by agreement or by law. The teaching proclaimed by churches and religious organisations, other religious activities and houses of prayer may not be used for purposes which are in conflict with the Constitution and laws. There shall not be a State religion in Lithuania. Article 45Ethnic communities of citizens shall independently manage the affairs of their ethnic culture, education, charity, and mutual assistance. Ethnic communities shall be provided support by the State.

Article 27 Polish shall be the official language in the Republic of Poland. This provision shall not infringe upon national minority rights resulting from ratified international agreements.Article 35.1. The Republic of Poland shall ensure Polish citizens belonging to national or ethnic minorities the freedom to maintain and develop their own language, to maintain customs and traditions, and to develop their own culture.2. National and ethnic minorities shall have the right to establish educational and cultural institutions, institutions designed to protect religious identity, as well as to participate in the resolution of matters connected with their cultural identity.

Art. 3. Tutti i cittadini hanno pari dignità sociale e sono eguali davanti alla legge, senza distinzione di sesso, di razza, di lingua, di religione, di opinioni politiche, di condizioni personali e sociali.(...)Art. 6. La Repubblica tutela con apposite norme le minoranze linguistiche. Art. 8. Tutte le confessioni religiose sono egualmente libere davanti alla legge.Le confessioni religiose diverse dalla cattolica hanno diritto di organizzarsi secondo i propri statuti, in quanto non contrastino con l'ordinamento giuridico italiano.I loro rapporti con lo Stato sono regolati per legge sulla base di intese con le relative rappresentanze.

Article 25 (1) Citizens who constitute national or ethnic minorities are guaranteed all-round development, in particular the right to develop, together with other members of the minority, their own culture, the right to disseminate and receive information in their native language, and the right to associate in national associations. Detailed provisions shall be set down by law. (2) Citizens belonging to national and ethnic minority groups are also guaranteed, under the conditions set down by law: (a) the right to education in their own language, (b) the right to use their own language in their relations with officials, (c) the right to participate in the resolution of affairs that concern national and ethnic minorities.

§ 37. (…) Igaühel on õigus saada eestikeelset õpetust. Õppekeele vähemusrahvuse õppeasutuses valib õppeasutus.(...)
§ 50. Vähemusrahvustel on õigus luua rahvuskultuuri huvides omavalitsusasutusi vähemusrahvuste kultuurautonoomia seaduses sätestatud tingimustel ja korras.
§ 51. Igaühel on õigus pöörduda riigiasutuste, kohalike omavalitsuste ja nende ametiisikute poole eesti keeles ja saada eestikeelseid vastuseid.
Paikkondades, kus vähemalt pooled püsielanikest on vähemusrahvusest, on igaühel õigus saada riigiasutustelt ja kohalikelt omavalitsustelt ning nende ametiisikutelt vastuseid ka selle vähemusrahvuse keeles.
§ 52. Riigiasutuste ja kohalike omavalitsuste asjaajamiskeel on eesti keel.Paikkondades, kus elanike enamiku keel ei ole eesti keel, võivad kohalikud omavalitsused seaduses sätestatud ulatuses ja korras kasutada sisemise asjaajamiskeelena selle paikkonna püsielanike enamiku keelt.Võõrkeelte, sealhulgas vähemusrahvuste keelte kasutamise riigiasutuses ning kohtu- ja kohtueelses menetluses sätestab seadus.

Art. 27 W Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej językiem urzędowym jest język polski. Przepis ten nie narusza praw mniejszości narodowych wynikających z ratyfikowanych umów międzynarodowych.Art. 35.1. Rzeczpospolita Polska zapewnia obywatelom polskim należącym do mniejszości narodowych i etnicznych wolność zachowania i rozwoju własnego języka, zachowania obyczajów i tradycji oraz rozwoju własnej kultury.2. Mniejszości narodowe i etniczne mają prawo do tworzenia własnych instytucji edukacyjnych, kulturalnych i instytucji służących ochronie tożsamości religijnej oraz do uczestnictwa w rozstrzyganiu spraw dotyczących ich tożsamości kulturowej.

114. Personām, kuras pieder pie mazākumtautībām, ir tiesības saglabāt un attīstīt savu valodu, etnisko un kultūras savdabību.

Within the Republic of Latvia live the Latvian nation, the ancient indigenous nationality, the Livs, as well as other nationalities and ethnic groups.This Law is adopted to guarantee to all nationalities and ethnic groups in the Republic of Latvia the rights to cultural autonomy and self-administration of their culture.

14 straipsnis. Valstybinė kalba - lietuvių kalba. 37 straipsnis. Piliečiai, priklausantys tautinėms bendrijoms, turi teisę puoselėti savo kalbą, kultūrą ir papročius. 43 straipsnis. Valstybė pripažįsta tradicines Lietuvoje bažnyčias bei religines organizacijas, o kitas bažnyčias ir religines organizacijas - jeigu jos turi atramą visuomenėje ir jų mokymas bei apeigos neprieštarauja įstatymui ir dorai. Valstybės pripažintos bažnyčios bei kitos religinės organizacijos turi juridinio asmens teises. Bažnyčios bei religinės organizacijos laisvai skelbia savo mokslą, atlieka savo apeigas, turi maldos namus, labdaros įstaigas ir mokyklas dvasininkams rengti.Bažnyčios bei religinės organizacijos laisvai tvarkosi pagal savus kanonus ir statutus. Bažnyčių bei kitų religinių organizacijų būklė valstybėje nustatoma susitarimu arba įstatymu. Bažnyčių bei religinių organizacijų mokslo skelbimas, kita tikybinė veikla, taip pat maldos namai negali būti naudojami tam, kas prieštarauja Konstitucijai ir įstatymams. Lietuvoje nėra valstybinės religijos. 45 straipsnis. Piliečių tautinės bendrijos savo tautinės kultūros reikalus, švietimą, labdarą, savitarpio pagalbą tvarko savarankiškai. Tautinėms bendrijoms valstybė teikia paramą.

Art. 42. L’Etat garantit l’accès à la culture et le droit à l’épanouissement culturel. 

L’Etat promeut la protection du patrimoine culturel.