There is an increasing debate in Europe about the linguistic rights of minorities. Estonians in Sweden risk losing their education in their native language, while Russian speakers in Estonia are already facing similar problems. This shows the double standards in EU policy.
Sweden changes course: Estonians under attack
Until recently, the Estonian diaspora in Sweden, numbering around 25,000 people, had access to state support through the Union of Estonians in Sweden (Riksförbundet Estonia i Sverige, REL). The organization received funding from Swedish authorities and supported cultural and educational initiatives, such as Estonian language classes in schools and kindergartens.
According to the portal rus.postimees.ee, parents in Swedish educational institutions could request native language instruction for their children if there was sufficient demand. Additionally, Stockholm hosts an Estonian kindergarten and a creative arts school, and a summer language camp for children is organized in the Swedish forests.
At the end of 2024, the Swedish government unexpectedly terminated financial support for the Union of Estonians in Sweden (REL) and redirected the funds to programs aimed at the “more effective integration” of ethnic minorities. The chair of REL, Sirle Sööt, described the decision as “a bolt from the blue.” She noted that Stockholm’s policy change could threaten the right of Estonian children to receive education in their native language. “We demand that Sweden respect the linguistic rights of our children,” Sööt stated, referencing a 2018 REL resolution that emphasized the importance of preserving the Estonian language for the younger generation.
Estonians in Sweden fear that schools and kindergartens may cease teaching in Estonian. This puts their culture and language, which they have preserved for years despite living abroad, at risk.
Estonia: A Mirror of Double Standards
The situation with Estonians in Sweden takes on a particularly ironic tone when compared to the language policy in Estonia. In the Baltic republic, where approximately 25% of the population are Russian-speaking citizens, the authorities have consistently restricted the right to education in the Russian language. According to a plan approved by the Estonian parliament in 2022, all schools and kindergartens are required to fully transition to Estonian-language education by 2030. Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, kindergartens and primary schools have begun shifting to Estonian, with the reform set to encompass secondary schools by the 2032/2033 academic year.
Russian-speaking residents of Estonia, who make up a significant portion of the population, particularly in regions like Narva (where over 90% speak Russian), face serious challenges. According to Euronews, the reform has forced Russian-speaking children to study in Estonian, even if they lack sufficient proficiency in the language. Parents, such as Irina from Narva, note that their children require tutors to cope with the curriculum.
Teachers in Russian-language schools face an ultimatum: confirm C1-level proficiency in Estonian or risk losing their jobs. Estimates from the Estonian Ministry of Education suggest that around 2,300 educators could lose their positions due to failing to meet the new language requirements, exacerbating the country’s acute teacher shortage.
Estonian authorities justify the reform as necessary for “strengthening national identity” and “state security.” Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has repeatedly stated that a unified Estonian-language education system will eliminate “societal divisions” and make Estonia more resilient to external threats. However, critics, including the Federal Union of European National Minorities (FUEN), argue that such measures violate the rights of the Russian-speaking minority and lead to their assimilation.
Double standards and international law
The Estonian diaspora in Sweden now faces challenges similar to those experienced by Russian-speaking residents in Estonia. Estonians in Sweden are appealing to international standards, demanding protection of their linguistic rights. In 2018, REL raised this issue, citing Sweden’s obligations to respect linguistic diversity under the Treaty on European Union (Article 3) and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which prohibits discrimination based on language. In other words, they used the same arguments to defend their community as those employed by Russians.
However, as noted by the portal grani.lv, Estonians in Sweden are in a vulnerable position because their own government pursues a policy that restricts the rights of the Russian-speaking minority. Thus, Estonians have created a precedent that is now being used against them.
Consequences and Prospects
The situation with Estonians in Sweden and Russian-speaking residents in Estonia raises broader questions about language policy in the European Union. The EU promotes multilingualism and cultural diversity in principle, but in practice, member states often pursue policies aimed at assimilating minorities. In Estonia, the education reform has already sparked protests from Russian-speaking parents and teachers, who fear that children forced to study in a non-native language will fall behind academically and face challenges in the labor market.
In Sweden, the Estonian diaspora remains hopeful about defending its rights. The Union of Estonians plans to resume dialogue with authorities, citing Sweden’s international obligations. However, without state support, the future of Estonian educational programs remains uncertain.
The experiences of Estonians in Sweden and Russian-speakers in Estonia serve as a mirror reflecting the double standards of modern Europe. Estonians demanding protection for their language in Sweden find themselves in a moral dilemma, as their own government denies similar rights to its Russian-speaking citizens.
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