Question: is welsh the oldest spoken language in europe

title: Welsh language
text: In November 2008 , the Welsh language was used at a meeting of the European Union 's Council of Ministers for the first time . The Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones addressed his audience in Welsh and his words were interpreted into the EU 's 23 official languages . The official use of the language followed years of campaigning . Jones said `` In the UK we have one of the world 's major languages , English , as the mother tongue of many . But there is a diversity of languages within our islands . I am proud to be speaking to you in one of the oldest of these , Welsh , the language of Wales . '' He described the breakthrough as `` more than ( merely ) symbolic '' saying `` Welsh might be one of the oldest languages to be used in the UK , but it remains one of the most vibrant . Our literature , our arts , our festivals , our great tradition of song all find expression through our language . And this is a powerful demonstration of how our culture , the very essence of who we are , is expressed through language . '' 

Answer: answer: Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones described the breakthrough as `` more than ( merely ) symbolic '' saying `` Welsh might be one of the oldest languages to be used in the UK, but it remains one of the most vibrant.