Legislation

Territory of enforcement of the law

1. The present law will be enforced in those relations with the authorities of the state, local or regional administration in a geographical territory of activities which partially or entirelly covers the territory of administration for the Finnish and Meänkieli languages.

The territory for the administration for the Finnish and Meänkieli languages comprises the tows of Gällivare, Haparanda, Kiruna, Pajala and Övertorneå.

This law will also be applied to provintial courts, courts of first instance, dwelling tribunals, tribunals for environment and maritime rights in the domains partially or entirely covered by the territory for the administration for the Finnish and Meänkieli languages.

The right to use Finnish and Meänkieli in relations with the authorities of the administration

2. An individual has the right to use the Finnish and Meänkieli languages in verbal and written contacts with an authority of the administration, in those cases concerning the exercise of the authority towards the individual, as long as the case is related to the territory of the adminstration.

In case the individual makes use of the languages in any of these cases, the authorities are obliged to answer in Finnish and Meänkieli. Written replies must contain information in Finnish and Meänkieli, and the resolution may be orally translated, when requested by the individual. Authorities must intend to deal with speakers of Finnish and Meänkieli in their respective languages.

3. The authorities of the administration must establish a schedule for visits and phone calls in Finnish and Meänkieli.

The right to use Finnish and Meänkieli at courts

4. The Finnish and Meänkieli languages may be used during the procedures of the trial, as long as the case is related to the territory of the adminstration. This right is also applied to the bringing of actions corresponding to the courts where the decision has been submitted.

5. According to section 4, the right to use the Finnish and Meänkieli languages also includes the right to deliver documentation related to the case, as well as the right to speak Finnish or Meänkieli in oral negotiations before the tribunal. The tribunal will have to undertake the translation into Swedish, if necessary.

6. Those whose will is to use the Finnish and Meänkieli languages during the procedures of a case in a court, will have to previously request for it, according to section 4. If this is not so, the request may be denied.

A request for the use of Finnish and Meänkieli may be denied in those cases in which there is an obvious anappropriate purpose.

7. In case the interested part makes use of the Finnish and Meänkieli languages, he/she will also have to make use of an interpreter, according to the provisions corresponding to chapter 5, sections 6-8, and chapter 33, section 9 of the civil code, and to sections 50-52 of the Act for the procedures of administration.

The Finnish and Meänkieli languages in nursery schools and geriatrics

8. Those towns inside the administration offering vacancies in nursery schools or geriatric activities must grant the possibility to get one of them in a centre in which Finnish and Meänkieli is the languages partially or entirely used in the activity, according to chapter 2, sections 1 and 7 of the Act of school activities.

9. Towns inside the administration will have to undertake the possibility to be attended by staff with a proficient command of Finnish and Meänkieli, respectively, for those who request for it in services corresponding to the field of geriatrics.

Exceptions

10. In special cases, the goverment will be able to decree the exemption of the implementation of section 2 for certain government authorities. This will likewise be valid for delegates of the General Council and township delegates, with a previous authorization from the government.

This law will be enforced on April 1, 2000. It will be applied to those cases in concerned tribunals after its enforcement.

Adapted text from a non-official translation

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