Bilingual municipalities in Poland
The introduction of minority languages as the second official language at local level (the so-called auxiliary language in Poland ) was made possible by the Minorities Act, which came into force on January 6, 2005.
Minority languages can be introduced as auxiliary languages in the municipalities in which the proportion of minorities is more than 20% of the total population. Before an auxiliary language can be introduced, it must first be entered in an official register. Once this is done, a parish is officially considered bilingual.
German
German was introduced as the official language in 22 municipalities. These include the municipalities:
- Birawa ( Bierawa )
- Chronstau ( Chrząstowice )
- Colonnowska ( Kolonowskie )
- Comprachtschütz ( Komprachcice )
- Gross Döbern ( Dobrzeń Wielki )
- Groß Lassowitz ( Lasowice Wielkie )
- Good day ( Dobrodzień )
- Himmelwitz ( Jemielnica )
- Klein Strehlitz ( Strzeleczki )
- Leschnitz ( Leśnica )
- Murow ( Murów )
- Upper Logau ( Głogówek )
- Proskau ( Prószków )
- Radlau ( Radłów )
- Reinschdorf ( Reńska Wieś )
- Stubendorf ( Izbicko )
- Tarnau ( Tarnów Opolski )
- Turawa ( Turawa )
- Ujest ( Ujazd )
- Rollers ( Walce )
- Zembowitz ( Zębowice )
- Zülz ( Biała )
Kashubian
Kashubian was introduced as the official language in three municipalities. These include the municipalities:
- Linia ( Gmina Lëniô )
- Parchowo ( Parchòwò )
- Sierakowice ( Serakòjce )
Lithuanian
Lithuanian was introduced as an official language in a municipality. This includes the community:
- Puńsk ( Punskas )
Belarusian
Belarusian was introduced as the official language in 5 municipalities. These include the municipalities:
- Czyże (Чыжы)
- Hajnówka (Гайнаўка) - township
- Hajnówka (Гайнаўка) - rural parish
- Narewka (Нараўка)
- Orla (Орля)