The Government welcomes the new language bill adopted by the Parliament of Ukraine on the "Fundaments of public language policy" and will monitor those measures that help the Hungarian language acquire regional status in the Sub-Carpathian region.

Decisions made by local governments mark a progress in the practical implementation of the law, but unfortunately not all such measures are enacted. The Government trusts that Ukraine and its executive bodies, including local governments in the Sub-Carpathian region, will take further steps to ensure that the Hungarian language is given full regional status in administrative units where the population is at least 10 percent ethnic Hungarian.

The Hungarian Government has however expressed concerns over statements made by several Ukrainian politicians that the law only applies to ethnic Russian minorities and its introduction is not justified in the case of other minorities.

(Prime Minister’s Office)