languages

South Tyrol’s recent history A constantly evolving present

2014

The Guarantee Pact of October 2014, the new financial regulation negotiated with the Italian State, calls for South Tyrol to pay a fixed contribution to the interest on public debt. Moreover, it is now the Province that pays the contribution to the State and no longer the Ministry that keeps it upstream. With an exchange of notes between Italian and Austrian governments, the agreement acquires a foundation in international law.

2015

Between 2015 and 2017 the Provincial Council facilitated a participatory process to review and propose changes to the Autonomy Statute. The process consisted of a series of discussions and debates throughout the province, most influentially in two citizens’ assemblies (the “Forum of 100” and the ”Convention of 33”), and a proposal for amending the Autonomy Statute was produced by the Convention of 33.

2017

Constitutional law no. 1/2017, the so-called Ladin law, strengthens the rights of the Ladin-speaking population. The law introduces some forms of protection for the Ladin minority that the 1972 Statute didn’t provide for, and puts an end to some discriminations.

2021

The Euroregion gets closer to the citizens. The municipalities are involved in the decisionmaking processes through their own Euroregion councils; thanks to the citizens’ councils. Thanks to citizens’ councils, civil society has a greater say on issues related to the Euroregion.

South Tyrol’s autonomy Who does what?

With the 1972 second Autonomy Statute the Province of BozenBolzano maintains a series of competencies, divided into primary, secondary and tertiary. While the State’s competencies are limited to certain sectors, the Province can legislate on all other matters in accordance with the Italian Constitution, EU laws, and international agreements.

State competencies

• Immigration • Defence • Police • Law • Currency Primarycompetencies

• Culture • Vocational training • Kindergartens • Social affairs • Roads • Housing • Local public transport • Tourism • Handicrafts • Agriculture • Civil defence • Nature parks

Within these main areas South Tyrol can issue laws so long as they are consistent with Italian and European Union law.

Secondarycompetencies Tertiary competencies

• Sport • Schools • Health • Trade • Public waters

Within these main areas the Province must follow principles set by the State. South Tyrol has some discretion on how this is done, but much less autonomy than it does regarding primary competencies. • Employment • Job placement

Within these areas, the legislative power of the Province is limited to supplementing the legislative provisions of the State.

1.

Language-group proportionality in the public services, in the system of government, and in the resource allocation.

2.

Bilingualism/trilingualism in public offices and services, two or even three place names.

South Tyrol’s autonomy Rules for living together

The three language groups in South Tyrol co-exist on the basis of a complex system that combines territorial autonomy power-sharing, including reserved positions, government and public service group proportionality, public service multilingualism, and cultural autonomy.

3.

Teaching in pupils’ native language.

South Tyrol’s budget Autonomous management

The South Tyrolean budget currently runs to some six billion euros a year. This is funded by the tax revenues collected in South Tyrol. Of this income, 9/10 remain within the province, with the remaining tenth paid to Rome.

1/10 goes to Rome

6.2bn €

942 mil € Education 1.5 bn € Health

9/10 remains in the province 447 mil € Mobility …573 mil € Social affairs Unlike other regions in Italy, the funds from the provincial budget finance a wide range of policy areas, including the entire education system, from kindergarten to university, health and social affairs as well as the administration of all major and minor roads.