Language 1: Estonian
Use:: National
Use in percentages:: 51-75%
Language 1: Estonian
Yes
1.0: Estonian
2.0: Russian or other foreing language
Original language: -
English translation: -
Comments on 1.4: The codes of procedure allow courts to hear the case in a foreign language if both the parties and judge(s) agree. If the hearing is held in Estonian and the person cannot express him/herself correctly in the official language, the court guarantees an interpreting service. Codes of civil and administrative procedure specify that documents in a foreign language may be given to parties only if they both agree.
No
Comments on 1.5: The Võro dialect spoken in southern Estonia stands out as the most removed vernacular from standard Estonian and some linguists consider it to be a separate language. However, the common view shared by most linguists is that this is a local variety of Estonian.
1.0: russian
2.0: ukrainian
3.0: finnish
Comments on 1.6: The majority of second and third generation immigrants, especially Ukrainians and Belorussians speak Russian as their first language, but still regard Ukrainian or Belorussian as their mother tongue: according to 2011 census, 22 302 people identified themselves as Ukrainians, while 8012 people declared Ukrainian to be their mother tongue. Of those 12419 who reported Belorussian identity, 1663 cited Belorussian as their mother tongue. As a result, the number persons with Russian as their first language (in total 383 062) exceeds that of the ethnic Russians (321 198). In other ethnic groups, like Finns and Swedes there are remarkable number of people citing Estonian as their first language.
Source: (http://pub.stat.ee/px-web.2001/Database/Rahvaloendus/REL2011/04Esialgsed_andmed/04Esialgsed_andmed.asp
Country 1: no input
Country 1 (outside the European Union): No input
No
Comments on 1.8: This has been a subject of discussions. The charter was analysed before Estonia’s accession to the EU and it was determined that Estonia would not have any conceptual problems in observing the charter. Minority language communities have been granted a range of possibilities to learn and practise their languages and to preserve their cultural traditions. One ethnic group ― Russians ― are able to receive state-financed Russian-language education in all stages of education (from basic school through to higher education).
Yes
While ratifying the Convention (01.02.1998) Estonia made a declaration according to which the Republic of Estonia understands the term "national minorities", which is not defined in the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, as follows: are considered as "national minority" those citizens of Estonia who
- reside on the territory of Estonia;
- maintain longstanding, firm and lasting ties with Estonia;
- are distinct from Estonians on the basis of their ethnic, cultural, religious or linguistic characteristics;
- are motivated by a concern to preserve together their cultural traditions, their religion or their language, which constitute the basis of their common identity.
Comments on 1.9: Art 2 of Cultural Autonomy for National Minorities Act states that cultural autonomy may be established by persons belonging to German, Russian, Swedish and Jewish minorities and by persons belonging to national minorities having more than 3000 members.
So far two minority groups have established their cultural autonomy in Estonia — the Ingrian Finnish in 2004 and Coastal Swedes in 2007.
Yes
Original language: Eesti Vabariigi põhiseadus 28.06.1992 § 6: Eesti riigikeel on eesti keel
English translation: Constitution of the Republic of Estonia 28.06.1992 art 6: The official language of Estonia is Estonian
Yes
Original language: Keeleseadus 23.02.2011 (RT I, 02.07.2012, 7)
§ 3. Eesti keele staatus
(1) Eesti riigikeel on eesti keel.
English translation: Language Act 23.02.2011 (RT I, 02.07.2012, 7)
§ 3. Status of Estonian language
(1) The official language of Estonia is Estonian
Yes
Original language: Riigikogu kodu- ja töökorra seadus 14.07.2007 (RT I 2007, 44, 316)
§ 92. Eelnõule esitatavad nõuded
(4) Välislepinguid käsitlevad seaduseelnõud esitatakse koos lepingu eesti- ja võõrkeelse tekstiga. Kui välislepingu autentne tekst on ainult võõrkeeles, esitatakse ka lepingu tõlge eesti keelde.
§ 158. Asjaajamiskeel
(1) Riigikogu asjaajamiskeel on eesti keel.
(2) Eelnõud, arupärimised ja muud dokumendid esitatakse eesti keeles.
(3) Ettekanded ja sõnavõtud peetakse ning küsimused esitatakse ja neile vastatakse eesti keeles.
Tsiviilkohtumenetluse seadustik 20.04.2005 RT I 2005, 26, 197
§ 32. Kohtu töökeel
(1) Kohtumenetlus ja kohtu asjaajamine toimub eesti keeles.
Halduskohtumenetluse seadustik 27.01.2011 (RT I, 23.02.2011, 3)
§ 80. Töökeel
(1) Kohtumenetlus ja kohtu asjaajamine toimub eesti keeles.
(2) Kohtuistung ja muu menetlustoiming protokollitakse eesti keeles.
Haldusmenetluse seadus 06.06.2001 RT I 2001, 58, 354
§ 20. Haldusmenetluse keel
(1) Haldusmenetluse keel on eesti keel.
(2) Haldusmenetluses kasutatakse võõrkeeli keeleseaduses sätestatud korras.
Kohaliku omavalitsuse korralduse seadus 02.06.1993 (RT I 1993, 37, 558)
§ 23. Volikogu õigusaktidele esitatavad nõuded ja õigusaktide jõustumine
(7) Volikogu määrused ja otsused ning istungite protokollid vormistatakse eesti keeles. Omavalitsusüksustes, mille püsielanike enamiku keel ei ole eesti keel, võidakse volikogu istungite protokollid lisaks eesti keelele vormistada ka selle omavalitsusüksuse püsielanike enamiku moodustava vähemusrahvuse keeles.
§ 41. Keelekasutus kohalikes omavalitsustes
(1) Asjaajamiskeel kohalikes omavalitsustes on eesti keel. Igaühel on õigus pöörduda kohalike omavalitsuste ja nende ametiisikute poole eesti keeles ja saada eestikeelseid vastuseid.
(2) Volikogu ja valitsuse istungid toimuvad eesti keeles.
(3) Võõrkeelte, sealhulgas vähemusrahvuste keelte kasutamise kohalikes omavalitsustes sätestab keeleseadus. Kohaliku omavalitsuse volikogu ettepanekul keeleseaduse § 11 alusel antud luba kasutada selle kohaliku omavalitsuse sisemise asjaajamise keelena omavalitsusüksuse püsielanike enamiku keelt kehtib kuni kõnealuse volikogu volituste lõppemiseni.
(4) Kui omavalitsusüksus on vastavalt käesoleva paragrahvi 3. lõikele saanud nõusoleku kasutada sisemise asjaajamise keelena eesti keele kõrval omavalitsusüksuse püsielanike enamiku moodustava vähemusrahvuse keelt, võivad volikogu ja valitsus otsustada vastavalt volikogu ja valitsuse istungi töö osalise või täieliku tõlkimise vähemusrahvuse keelde.
English translation: Riigikogu Rules of Procedure Act 14.07.2007 (RT I 2007, 44, 316)
§ 92. Requirements for draft legislation
(4) Draft Acts concerning international agreements shall be submitted together with the text of the agreement in Estonian and a foreign language. If the authentic text of an international agreement is only in a foreign language, an Estonian translation of the agreement shall also be submitted.
§ 158. Working language
(1) The working language of the Riigikogu is Estonian.
(2) Draft legislation, interpellations and other documents shall be submitted in Estonian.
(3) Reports and comments shall be presented and questions shall be posed and replied to in Estonian.
Code of Civil Procedure 20.04.2005 RT I 2005, 26, 197
§ 32. Working language of courts
(1) The language of judicial proceedings and court procedure shall be Estonian.
Code of Administrative Court Procedure 27.01.2011 (RT I, 23.02.2011, 3)
§ 80. Working language
(1) The language of judicial proceedings and court procedure shall be Estonian
(2) Minutes of court sessions and other procedural acts shall be prepared in Estonian.
Administrative Procedure Act 06.06.2001 RT I 2001, 58, 354
§ 20. Language of administrative proceedings
(1) The language of administrative proceedings shall be Estonian.
(2) Foreign languages shall be used in administrative proceedings pursuant to the procedure provided for in the Language Act.
Local Government Organisation Act 02.06.1993 (RT I 1993, 37, 558)
§ 23. Requirements for council legislation and entry into force thereof
(7) Council regulations and resolutions and minutes of council sessions shall be prepared in Estonian. In a local government where the majority of permanent residents are non-Estonian speakers, minutes of council sessions may, in addition to Estonian language, be also prepared in the language of the national minority constituting the majority of the permanent residents of the local government.
§ 41. Use of language in local governments
(1) The working language of local governments is Estonian. Everyone has the right to address a local government and its officials in Estonian and to receive responses in Estonian.
(2) The sessions of councils and governments are held in Estonian.
(3) The use of foreign languages including languages of national minorities shall be provided for in the Language Act. The permission granted on the proposal of the local government council pursuant to § 11 of the Language Act to use the language of the majority of the permanent residents of the local government entity as the internal working language of the local government shall be valid until the term of office of the corresponding council expires.
(4) If a local government has been granted, pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, the permission to use the language of the national minority constituting the majority of the permanent residents of the local government alongside Estonian as the internal working language of the local government, the council and the government may decide to translate part or whole of the sessions into the language of the national minority.
Yes
Quotation in original language: Kodakondsuse seadus: 19.01.1995 (RT I 1995, 12, 122)
§ 6. Tingimused Eesti kodakondsuse saamiseks
Välismaalane, kes soovib saada Eesti kodakondsust, peab:
3) oskama eesti keelt vastavalt käesoleva seaduse §-s 8 sätestatud nõuetele;
§ 8. Eesti keele oskuse nõuded ja hindamine
Eesti keele oskus käesoleva seaduse mõistes on eesti üldkeele igapäevaeluks vajalik oskus, mis vastab vähemalt keeleseaduses sätestatud B-1 tasemele või sellele vastavale tasemele.
[01.08.2012 ― RT I, 02.07.2012, 7]
Quotation in English: Citizenship Act 19.01.1995 (RT I 1995, 12, 122)
§ 6. Conditions for acquisition of Estonian citizenship by naturalisation
An alien who wishes to acquire Estonian citizenship by naturalisation shall:
3) have knowledge of the Estonian language in accordance with the requirements provided for in § 8 of this Act;
§ 8. Requirements for and assessment of knowledge of Estonian language
(1) For the purposes of this Act, knowledge of the Estonian language means general knowledge of basic Estonian needed in everyday life, at least at level B1 specified by the Lanfuage Act or at level corresponding to.
[01.08.2012 ― RT I, 02.07.2012, 7]
Reference (name of the law, article number, date): [01.08.2012 ― RT I, 02.07.2012, 7]
Not authorized
Comments on 2.4: no input on authorization question
No
Yes
Quotation in original language: Välismaalaste seadus 22.04.2010 (RT I 2010, 22, 108)
§ 234. Integratsiooninõue
(1) Välismaalane, kes taotleb pikaajalise elaniku elamisluba, peab oskama eesti keelt vähemalt algtasemel — keeleoskustase B1 või sellele vastav tase.
Quotation in English: Aliens Act 22.04.2010 (RT I 2010, 22, 108)
§ 234. Integration requirement
(1) An alien who is applying for a residence permit for long-term residents is required to have the Estonian language proficiency at least at the elementary level – language proficiency level B1 or a corresponding level.
Reference (name of the law, article number, date): 22.04.2010 (RT I 2010, 22, 108)
Not authorized
Comments on 2.6: no input on authorization question
No
Yes
Quotation in original language: Põhikooli– ja gümnaasiumiseadus 09.06.2010 (RT I 2010, 41, 240)
§ 21. Õppekeel
(2) Põhikooli õppekeel on eesti keel. Põhikoolis või selle üksikutes klassides võib kooli hoolekogu ettepanekul munitsipaalkoolis valla- või linnavolikogu otsuse alusel ning riigikoolis haridus- ja teadusministri otsuse alusel olla õppekeel mis tahes keel.
Quotation in English: Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act 09.06.2010 (RT I 2010, 41, 240)
§ 21. Language of instruction
(2) In basic schools the language of instruction is Estonian. In a municipal basic school or in single classes thereof the language of instruction may be any language on the basis of a decision of the council of the rural municipality or city government relying on a proposal of the board of trustees of the school and in a state basic school or in single classes thereof the language of instruction may be any language on the basis of a decision of the Minister of Education and Research.
Reference (name of the law, article number, date): 09.06.2010 (RT I 2010, 41, 240)
Comments on 3.1: In the Soviet period a full-scale separate Russian education system was introduced in Estonia and Russian medium education was obtained not only by Russians but some other national minorities as well.
The Constitution (Art 37) provides that everybody has the right to instruction in Estonian and educational institutions for national minorities can choose the language of instruction.
At primary school level the language of instruction is determined by local government authorities in accordance with the ethnic composition and the demand. The number of students in Russian schools has decreased for demographic reasons, but also on account of Russian students choosing Estonian-medium schools. In 2011 90,6% of primary schools the language of instruction is Estonian. In 3,1% it is Russian, while in 6,2% of schools there are sections with both Estonian and Russian. A few schools (less than 1%) use English or Finnish as the language of instruction.
No
Yes
Quotation in original language: Põhikooli– ja gümnaasiumiseadus 09.06.2010 (RT I 2010, 41, 240)
§ 21. Õppekeel
(1) Kooli või klassi õppekeeleks loetakse keel, milles toimuv õpe moodustab vähemalt 60 protsenti riiklikes õppekavades määratud väikseimast lubatud õppe koormusest. Kui õpe ei toimu üheski keeles 60 protsendi ulatuses, loetakse õpe kakskeelseks. Kakskeelse õppe puhul käsitatakse õppekeeltena kahte keelt, milles toimub enamus õppest.
(3) Gümnaasiumi õppekeel on eesti keel. Munitsipaalgümnaasiumis või selle üksikutes klassides võib õppekeeleks olla ka muu keel. Loa muus keeles toimuvaks õppeks või kakskeelseks õppeks annab Vabariigi Valitsus valla- või linnavolikogu taotluse alusel. Sellise ettepaneku teeb valla- või linnavolikogule kooli arengukavast lähtudes hoolekogu.
Quotation in English: Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act 09.06.2010 (RT I 2010, 41, 240)
§ 21 Language of instruction
(1) The language, in which studies are pursued amounts to no less than 60 percent of the lowest permitted study workload laid down in the national curricula, is deemed the language of instruction of a school or class. If are not pursued to the extent of 60 percent in any language, the studies are deemed bilingual. In the event of bilingual studies the two languages in which most of the studies are pursued are deemed as the languages of instruction.
(3) In upper secondary schools the language of instruction is Estonian. In municipal upper secondary schools or single classes thereof of the language of instruction may be another language. The permission to pursue studies in another language or bilingual studies is granted by the Government of the Republic on the basis of an application of a rural municipality or city government. The board of trustees of the school makes such a proposal to the rural municipality or city government on the basis of the development plan of the school.
Reference (name of the law, article number, date): 09.06.2010 (RT I 2010, 41, 240)
§ 21.
No
Yes
Quotation in original language: Ülikooliseadus 12.01.1995 (RT I 1995, 12, 119)
§ 22. Õppekorralduse üldnõuded
(8) Ülikooli õppekeel on eesti keel. Muude keelte kasutuse otsustab ülikooli nõukogu.
Quotation in English: Universities Act 12.01.1995 (RT I 1995, 12, 119)
§ 22. General requirements for organisation of studies
(8) The language of instruction at universities is Estonian. The use of other languages shall be decided by the council of a university.
Reference (name of the law, article number, date): Universities Act 12.01.1995 (RT I 1995, 12, 119)
No
No
Between 0-25%
Between 0-25%
Between 0-25%
Between 0-25%
Comments on 4.3: No input on the above mentioned
Between 0-25%
Between 0-25%
Between 0-25%
Between 0-25%
Comments on 4.4: no input on the above mentioned
No
Yes
Quotation in original language: Väitekiri peab sisaldama:
16.8 ammendavat eestikeelset kokkuvõtet töö erinevate osade sisu kohta, kui väitekiri on kirjutatud võõrkeeles ning ammendavat võõrkeelset kokkuvõtet töö eri osade sisu kohta, kui väitekiri on kirjutatud eesti keeles;
Quotation in English: PhD dissertation must contain:
1.1.8 a comprehensive summary in Estonian covering the contents of all the parts of
the PhD, if the PhD dissertation is written in a language other than Estonian, and a
comprehensive summary in a foreign language covering the contents of all the parts of the PhD, if the PhD dissertation is written in Estonian.
Reference (name of the law, article number, date): Teaduskraadide põhimäärus Tartu Ülikooli nõukogu 16. detsembri 2011. a määrus nr 17, muudetud Tartu Ülikooli nõukogu 16. detsembri 2011. a määrusega nr 17
(Scientific Degree Statutes, passed by the Council of the University of Tartu, Statute No. 36, 30 November 2007, amended by Statute No. 17, 16 December 2011)
Not authorized
Yes
No
Persentage: -
Number: -
Yes
“Postimees на русском языке”
There are some weeklies in Russian (Деловые ведомости, День за днем, МК Эстония)
)
Yes
Quotation in original language: § 18. Audiovisuaalse teose, tele- ja raadiosaate ning reklaami võõrkeelse teksti tõlge
(1) Audiovisuaalse teose, sealhulgas saate ja reklaami üldsusele kättesaadavaks tegemisel tagab audiovisuaalmeediateenuse osutaja või ettevõtja, et võõrkeelsele tekstile on lisatud sellele sisult ja vormilt vastav eestikeelne tõlge.
(2) Eestikeelset tõlget ei nõuta keeleõppesaadete, vahetult taasedastatavate saadete või omatoodetud võõrkeelsete uudiste diktoriteksti ja otsesaadete puhul. Nimetatud eestikeelse tõlketa võõrkeelsete uudiste ja otsesaadete maht ei tohi ületada kümme protsenti nädala omatoodangu mahust.
(3) Eestikeelset tõlget ei nõuta võõrkeelsele kuulajale suunatud raadiosaadete puhul. Eestikeelses raadiosaates sisalduvad võõrkeelsed kõnetekstid tõlgitakse eesti keelde.
Quotation in English: § 18. Translation of foreign language text of audiovisual works, television and radio programmes and advertisements
(1) Upon making audiovisual works, including programmes and advertisements available to the public the provider of the audiovisual media service or a company shall ensure that a foreign language text shall be accompanied by an adequate translation into Estonian in form and content.
(2) A translation into Estonian is not required for language learning programmes or programmes that are immediately retransmitted or in the case of the newsreader’s text of originally produced foreign language news programmes and of originally produced live foreign language programmes. The volume of foreign language news programmes and live foreign language programmes without the specified translations into Estonian shall not exceed ten per cent of the volume of weekly original production.
(3) A translation into Estonian is not required in the case of radio programmes that are aimed at a foreign language audience. The foreign language texts of speech included in the radio programmes in Estonian shall be translated into Estonian.
Reference (name of the law, article number, date): Keeleseadus 23.02.2011 (RT I, 02.07.2012, 7)
Language Act
Authorized
Sometimes
Rarely/never
Rarely/never
Mostly/always
Rarely/never
Rarely/never
Sometimes
Mostly/always
Rarely/never
Rarely/never
No
Yes
Quotation in original language: Töötajale ja teenistujale tagatakse eestikeelne tööalane teave, kui seadus ei sätesta teisiti.
Quotation in English: All employees and public servants shall be provided with work-related information in Estonian, unless otherwise provided by law
Reference (name of the law, article number, date): Keeleseadus § 8 lg 3 23.02.2011
Language Act art 8 para 3
Authorized
Company name and status:: Eesti Energia AS ― SO
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
Company name and status:: BLRT Grupp AS ― P
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd Russian
Company name and status:: Eesti Post AS ― SO
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd Russian
3rd English
Company name and status:: Viru Keemia Grupp AS ― P
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd
3rd English
Company name and status:: Elion Ettevõtted AS ― P
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd
3rd
Company name and status:: AS Tallina Sadam ― SO
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd
3rd English
Company name and status:: Nordecon AS ― P
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd Russian
3rd English
Company name and status:: Rakvere Lihakombinaat AS
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd
3rd
Company name and status:: Eesti Raudtee AS ― SO
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd Russian
3rd
Company name and status:: TERE AS ― P
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd
3rd English
Company name and status:: Eesti Energia AS ― SO
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd Russian
3rd English
Company name and status:: BLRT Grupp AS ― P
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd Russian
3rd
Company name and status:: Eesti Post AS ― SO
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd Russian
3rd English
Company name and status:: Viru Keemia Grupp AS ― P
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd Russian
3rd English
Company name and status:: Elion Ettevõtted AS ― P
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd Russian
3rd English
Company name and status:: AS Tallina Sadam ― SO
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd Russian
3rd English
Company name and status:: Nordecon AS ― P
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd Russian
3rd English
Company name and status:: Rakvere Lihakombinaat AS
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd Russian
3rd English
Company name and status:: Eesti Raudtee AS ― SO
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd Russian
3rd
Company name and status:: TERE AS ― P
Rated use of languages:: 1st Estonian
2nd Russian
3rd Russian
11-25 countries
11-25 countries
Arabic: Secondary school
Chinese: Secondary school
English: Primary school / Secondary school
Estonian: Primary school / Secondary school
Finnish: Primary school / Secondary school
French: Primary school / Secondary school
German: Primary school
Greek: Secondary school
Italian: Secondary school
Japanese: Secondary school
Latvian: Primary school / Secondary school
Lithaunian: Primary school / Secondary school
Russian: Primary school / Secondary school
Spanish: Secondary school
Swedish: Primary school / Secondary school
Added language: Hebrew
Foreign language taught in primary or secondary schoo: : Primary school / Secondary school
Added language: Latin
Foreign language taught in primary or secondary schoo: : Secondary school
Name (official and English translation): Eesti Keele Instituut (Institute of the Estonian Language) http://eki.ee/index.html.en
Language(s):: 7 departments, administration
Mission: : to cooperate on the preservation and development of the Estonian language
Relation to national government:: under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Research
Activities:: research into Standard Estonian, Estonian dialects, and languages genetically related to Estonian, compilation of scholarly dictionaries, language planning and development of practical language planning
URL:: http://eki.ee/
Structure:: Publicly founded
ame (official and English translation): Võro Instituut (the Võro Institute)
Language(s):: academic board, administration, project managers, research workers, specialists
Mission: : preservation and promotion of the Võro dialect and culture of that region
Relation to national government:: administered by the Estonian Ministry of Culture
Activities:: linguistic studies, sociological studies, schooling, publications
URL:: http://www.wi.ee/
Structure:: Publicly founded
ame (official and English translation): Emakeele Selts (Mother Tongue Society)
Mission: : contribution to the research and planning of the Estonian language, generation of public interest in the Estonian language
Relation to national government:: non-profit organization associated with the Estonian Academy of Sciences
Activities:: linguistic research; publications, meetings, conferences
URL:: http://www.emakeeleselts.ee/
Structure:: Private
ame (official and English translation): MTÜ Fenno-Ugria Asutus (NPO Fenno-Ugria)
Language(s):: central umbrella organisation for Finno-Ugrian interaction, uniting more than 50 Estonian organisations and institutions (both state and public).
Mission: : to promote relations between Estonia and other Finno-Ugrian peoples.
Relation to national government:: institution administered by the Ministry of Culture
Activities:: coordinating cooperation and information exchange with the other Uralic (Finno-Ugrian and Samoyed) peoples, cultural exchange, conferences, courses for teachers in Estonia. Coordinating the studies of Eastern Finno-Ugrian students in Estonia and the exchange of guest lecturers with Finno-Ugrian universities.
URL:: http://www.fennougria.ee/
Comments:: both Private and publicuty founded
Language(s): Estonian, other Finno-Ugric languages