Italian Constitutional Court (Corte costituzionale italiana), No. 312/1983, 30 September 1983

Obligation of bilingualism for employees of the province of Bolzano as they carry out a function of public interest. Protection of linguistic minorities.

Art. 41 Italian Constitution

 The question of constitutional legitimacy of art. 1 of the provincial law of Bolzano as the provision of the obligation of bilingualism for employees (of the Province of Bolzano), where they carry out a service of public interest, does not conflict with the freedom of economic initiative established by art. 41 of the Constitution. This obligation, in fact, serves to prevent the employee from causing damage to citizens against whom it is not possible to communicate either in Italian or in German.