On the one hand, national minority issues are covered most effectively, if they are on the
agenda of all political parties. On the other hand, a national minority political party might
easily come into an opposition situation, which makes it much more difficult to find a
political majority for minority issues.
Austria has chosen to establish the instrument of advisory bodies for each of her
national minority groups. These national minority advisory councils are within the
framework of the Federal Chancellery and have advisory competences.
The number of members and the procedures for the composition of these advisory
councils are strictly regulated by law. This guarantees that the majority of the members
of the advisory councils, including the chair and vice-chair of the councils, are proposed
by representative minority associations. Churches and political parties will propose the
other members of the advisory councils. This procedure ensures that all political and
ideological tendencies within the national minority groups are adequately reflected by
the advisory councils. The federal government decides the concrete composition of an
advisory council, but each representative minority association has access to the
administrative court, which can review, whether the composition of an advisory council
corresponds with the relevant legal provisions.
Finally, let me conclude by saying that Austria’s experience with the instrument of the
advisory councils has been truly positive.
Thank you.