WRITTEN QUESTION E-3702/00

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE), Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE), Pere Esteve (ELDR), Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE), Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE), Luciano Caveri (ELDR), Carles-Alfred Gasòliba i Böhm (ELDR), Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE), Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) and Jillian Evans (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Language diversity in the European Union

Languages are part of the richness of Europe. With next year's European Year of Languages, the European institutions have acknowledged the need to accord this issue an important place. Beyond the official recognition of some national languages in the European institutions, it is also vital that the Union and its Member States attend to protecting the diversity of the languages and cultures of Europe. On several occasions the Commission has announced its commitment to proposing a Community programme for lesser-used languages.

Several international charters recognise the right of citizens to maintain and develop their own languages. On 16 March 2000 Parliament adopted a reference to that effect in its report on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Does the Commission consider that a Europe of the Citizens has a duty to promote the protection and development of all languages? What concrete action will the Commission propose in the context of the European Year of Languages? When is the Commission planning to propose a solid legal basis for a specific programme at European level in favour of the lesser-used languages?

Is the Commission monitoring the process of signature and ratification of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages by the 15 Member States of the European Union? Would the Commission recommend, as Parliament did on 16 March, signing and ratifying it?

Is the Commission going to raise this issue in the accession negotiations with the applicant countries?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2001)

Respect for linguistic and cultural diversity is one of the fundamental principles of the Union. Article 22 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights states that The Union shall respect cultural, religious and linguistic diversity. As well as being a means of communication, language is a fundamental element of individual and collective identity and a way of expressing and transmitting culture and values. The Commission is aware that, in order to encourage the development of a European identity and citizenship, measures must be taken to ensure that citizens learn to appreciate and participate more actively in this linguistic diversity, a fundamental feature of Europe.

The main objectives of the European Year of Languages are to raise awareness of the richness of linguistic diversity within the European Union and the advantages of acquiring skills in a range of languages, to encourage the lifelong learning of languages and to collect and disseminate information about the teaching of languages. Most of the activities supported will be funded through a call for proposals of projects by European associations and organisations. The Commission will also be funding a large-scale information campaign, which will emphasise Europe's rich linguistic diversity, and events to present the Year in each Member State.

The Commission will be looking at the possibility of presenting a draft programme for safeguarding and promoting regional and lesser-used languages as a follow-up to the European Year of Languages, so that the lessons drawn from the activities and debates engendered by this great European event and the specific preparatory activities can be fully utilised.

The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is a Council of Europe initiative. Because of its importance and implications, the Commission is following its signature and ratification very closely, as it does with all Council of Europe initiatives. Member States are free to decide whether or not to adopt Council of Europe initiatives such as the Charter, and it would not be appropriate for the Commission to interfere with their decision on whether to sign or ratify this document.

The Copenhagen European Council in June 1993 stipulated that applicant countries would not be able to join the EU until they were able to fulfil their associated obligations by meeting the economic and political conditions (known as the Copenhagen criteria). With regard to the political criteria, the Copenhagen European Council concluded that applicant countries would not be admitted until they had stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities. The December 1999 Helsinki European Council reiterated that compliance with the political criteria laid down at the Copenhagen European Council is a prerequisite for the opening of accession negotiations and compliance with all the Copenhagen criteria is the basis for accession to the Union. The Commission submits periodic reports on the progress achieved by the applicant countries to satisfy these criteria.