WRITTEN QUESTION No. 730/98 by Maartje van PUTTEN to the Commission. Indigenous languages spoken in the overseas territories of the European Union, with particular reference to French Guiana
Date: 1998-03-18
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN PUTTEN
Subjects: EU action, EU financing, cultural identity, linguistic discrimination, minority language, overseas territory, regional language

C 386/38

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.98

(98/C 386/051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0730/98

by Maartje van Putten (PSE) to the Commission

(18 March 1998)

Subject: Indigenous languages spoken in the overseas territories of the European Union, with particular

reference to French Guiana

Following the Euromosaic study carried out under the supervision of DG XXII, can the Commission answer the
following questions:

1. Hitherto, in its Euromosaic report on minority and regional languages within the EU, the Commission has
devoted little or no attention to the languages spoken in the overseas territories of the EU, even though there
are facilities within the Euromosaic programme for looking into such languages. Does the Commission
intend in future to devote more attention under Euromosaic to the minority languages in the overseas
territories?

If so, can the Commission say what initiatives it has taken or intends to take?

If not, why not?

2. What specific initiatives has the Commission taken, or will it take, to support and recognise the indigenous
languages in the overseas territories of the EU (in particular in the context of the cultural identity of
indigenous peoples which is adversely affected if the indigenous language, one of the main elements in the
cultural identity of a people, is marginalized)?

3.

Is the Commission aware of the disadvantaged position of the indigenous peoples in French Guiana caused
by the fact that the French constitution recognizes only the French language? Has the Commission taken any
initiatives to reverse this infringement of the rights and the cultural identity of the indigenous peoples of
French Guiana?

If so, what initiatives?

If not, why not?

Answer given by Ms Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 1998)

1.
The Euromosaic study was initiated by the Commission to determine the position of minority or regional
languages in the Community. As the time and resources allotted to the study were limited, it was decided to look
only at minority languages in the Member States within continental Europe. A number of interesting regional and
minority languages therefore had to be excluded from the initial study. This does not mean that the Commission is
not thinking of extending the Euromosaic study to determine the current position of the regional or minority
languages that are at present excluded.

2.
As for the possibility that the Commission may take initiatives to support indigenous languages in French
Guiana, it should be noted that French Guiana, as a French overseas territory, forms part of the Community and
therefore takes part in the various Commission programmes. In the field of regional or minority languages, the
Commission is implementing the programme (cid:145)Promotion and safeguard of regional and minority languages and
cultures(cid:146), funded under budget heading B-1006. Projects relating to the indigenous languages of French Guiana
are therefore eligible for this programme provided they meet the objectives and requirements set out in the calls
for proposals.

As to whether the Commission is aware of the discrimination against the indigenous peoples in French
3.
Guiana caused by the fact that the French constitution recognizes only the French language, and whether the
Commission has taken any action to remedy this situation, it has to be pointed out that the matters covered by
these questions lie outside the Commission(cid:146)s competence.