!!!Volksgruppengesetz

Ethnic Minorities, Law on (Volksgruppengesetz), federal law of 7 July, 
1976, on the legal status of ethnic groups in Austria. The Law on 
Ethnic Minorities defines ethnic groups as groups of Austrian citizens 
who live in parts of Austrian territory, whose mother tongue is not 
German and who share a common folklore and traditions. The 
preservation and continuation of ethnic groups are to be achieved by 
the following measures: 1) Establishment of advisory boards for ethnic 
groups to support the federal government and the competent federal 
minister on matters relating to ethnic groups. As of 2000, such groups 
have been set up on the basis of a decree by the federal government 
for  Croats,  Slovenes,  Hungarians,  Czechs,  Slovaks and the  Roma. 
2) Support of ethnic groups by pecuniary or other measures. 3) 
Bilingual topographical names in certain areas. 4) Permission to use 
the ethnic language as official language in dealing with certain 
departments and authorities.

\\
In 2000 the fundamental rights of ethnic minorities were enshrined in 
the Austrian Federal Constitution.

!Literature
T. Veiter, Das oesterreichische Volksgruppenrecht seit dem 
Volksgruppengesetz von 1976, 1979.


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