WRITTEN QUESTION E-1140/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject: The EBLUL and the systematic defamation of an EU Member State

It is a known fact that in Greece democratic freedoms and cultural diversity are fully protected and safeguarded. The growing Muslim minority in the Greek region of Thrace accordingly enjoys comprehensive media access (newspapers, radio stations, unimpeded reception of Turkish satellite stations, many of which constantly vilify Greece etc.), is represented by elected Muslim deputies in the Greek parliament and has numerous places of worship, built and restored with funding from the Greek Government.

All other minorities however small, enjoy similar freedom, for example, the tiny Slav community of Florina, which has its own party structure freely exercising its mandate, (with offices, newspapers, and total freedom of expression, never failing to revile both Greece and the Greeks and entering a tiny contingent in all electoral contests. Anti-Greek propaganda has recently been stepped up, spearheaded by the European Bureau for Lesser-Used languages (EBLUL). Recently, a book (co-funded by the Commission as mentioned on page 2) full of advice and hints (p. 6 and elsewhere) for Greece was distributed to MEPs. Page 5 contains a reference to Macedonian speakers in Greece, while the EBLUL President, Mr Brezigar, recommends (p. 12) that Greeks should learn English as well as Macedonian.

Does the Commission (which is apparently providing funding for the activities of the Bureau) agree with Mr Brezigar's historically questionable references to a Macedonian language? What exact amounts (broken down by item) has the Bureau received from the European Union and for which years exactly. Why is funding being provided for a bureau circulating propaganda against a Member State? What action is being taken by the Bureau in countries where minority cultures are being oppressed, for example the Greek communities in Albania and Turkey? Does the Commission know whether EBLUL Committees in Member States of the Union contain extreme nationalist elements being incited by third countries systematically to provoke tension in specific areas of the Union? What are the names of the members of the EBLUL Committee in Greece and in what precise professional or other capacity are they designated?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2003)

The European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages (EBLUL) is an independent non-governmental organisation working for languages and linguistic diversity, which is based on a network of Member State Committees in all 15 Member States. It receives most of its funding from the Commission under budget line A-3015. In 2002 funding allocated to EBLUL amounted to EUR 810 000, of which a very small amount (EUR 2000) was allocated directly to the Greek Member State Committee.

The book mentioned by the Honourable Member in his written question contains the proceedings of a Conference on Linguistic Diversity in Greece organised by EBLUL in Thessaloniki on 14 and 16 November 2002. Representatives from the Parliament, the Commission and the Council of Europe were present at this conference.

On page 35 of the proceedings the Honourable Member can find the names of all the members of the Greek Committee of EBLUL and the objectives of this Member State Committee.

The Union has been supporting its regional and minority languages since 1983. Spoken by 40 million people in Europe, these languages are considered as an integral part of the Union's common cultural heritage. To update scientific information on regional and minority languages,

the Commission published in 1996 the Euromosaic study which provides information on the number of speakers and the use of languages in various domains in 12 Member States including Greece. One of the main objectives of this study was to assess the socio-linguistic vitality of a language, that is whether the language or linguistic community is in a state of decline, revival or stability. Information on Euromosaic can be found on: http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/langmin/euromosaic_fr.html

Respect for diversity is one of the founding principles of the Union. Article 151 of the EC Treaty gives the European Community the task of contributing to the flowering of the cultures of Member States, while respecting their national and regional diversity. It also commits the Community to taking cultural aspects into account in all its actions.