WRITTEN QUESTION E-0465/00

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 February 2000)

Subject: Commission policy on implementation of the EU budget for 2000 in respect of the promotion and safeguard of regional and minority languages

The two EU budgetary authorities, Parliament and the Council, have decided to set aside a number of headings under the Community budget for 2000 to promote and safeguard regional and minority languages.

To be more precise, it has been indicated that line B3-1000 (Cooperation in the fields of education and of youth policy), to which the sum of EUR 4,5 million has been earmarked, aims in particular to support actions to promote and safeguard minority languages in the Community.

Will the Commission say exactly how much of the sum of EUR 4,5 million is to be earmarked for the protection and safeguard of minority languages in the Community?

What procedure will it be pursuing with a view to implementing the aforementioned budget line?

When does it intend to begin accepting applications for specific projects which may be eligible for funding to promote and safeguard minority languages?

What will be the guidelines and requirements governing the eligibility of projects for Community funding?

When can the selected projects hope to receive the Community funding allocated to them?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-0465/00 and E-0478/00 given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2000)

Budget heading B3-1000, entitled Cooperation in the fields of education and of youth policy covers a total sum of 4,5 million. This amount is intended, amongst other things, to support measures to promote and safeguard the regional and minority languages and cultures of the Community. The Commission has earmarked a total of 2,5 million for this purpose, as was stated in the preliminary draft budget presented to the Council and the Parliament.

To this end, the Commission plans to publish a call for proposals as soon as possible, the text of which it is currently finalising. All the criteria for the presentation and selection of the proposals will be stated in the call. The Honourable Member will be notified directly as soon as the full picture becomes clear.

The Commission is also examining the case for a specific study on the needs of the Union's linguistic minorities that would complement the information already available on this subject.

The development of measures to promote and safeguard regional and minority languages over the coming years will take into account the implementation of these actions and the European Year of Languages in 2001. The exact content of these measures will be decided at the appropriate time.

The definition of regional and minority languages is based on Article 1 of the Council of Europe's European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages regional or minority languages means languages that are traditionally used within a given territory of a State by nationals of that State who form a group numerically smaller than the rest of the State's population; and different from the official language(s) of that State; it does not include either dialects of the official language(s) of the State or the languages of migrants.