WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1181/98 by Katerina DASKALAKI to the Commission. Marginalization of European languages
Date: 1998-04-29
Institutions: DASKALAKI, European Parliament
Subjects: access to EU information, consumer information, dissemination of EU information, information policy, official language, single market













EUR-Lex - 91998E1181 - EN






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91998E1181

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1181/98 by Katerina DASKALAKI to the Commission. Marginalization of European languages  


Official Journal C 402 , 22/12/1998 P. 0088 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1181/98by Katerina Daskalaki (UPE) to the Commission(29 April 1998)Subject: Marginalization of European languagesThe European Parliament has often reiterated its commitment to a multicultural and multilingual Europe. Nevertheless, attempts are being made to marginalize most of the Community languages, primarily on the pretext of "cutting costs" (which could possibly be achieved in a great many other ways rather than by levelling down European culture).In which and how many of the Commission's information networks are all the official EU languages used? How does it intend to deal with the major issue of democracy and scrutiny which is arising in the EU in this regard?Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission(29 May 1998)The Commission information policy is based on local structures, i.e. relays which are grouped into networks in line with their specific characteristics (target public, or location). The Commission information networks use all the official languages of the Union. Naturally relays in a given Member State use the language(s) of that State. There are:- 65 Info points (IPE) supplying the general public with basic information on the Community and its policies;- 350 European Documentation Centres (EDC) whose objectives are to assist in consolidating teaching and research into Community matters, give the public (including non-university public) access to information on the Community and its policies and encourage the public to take part in the debate on the Community;- 200 Euro-libraries which make the information on the Communities' policies accessible to the public;- 3 large information on Europe centres, one in Paris ("sources d'Europe"), one in Lisbon ("Jacques Delors") and one in Berlin ("Jean Monnet Haus"), whose aim is to supply information to both the general public and target publics; these centres can also provide technical assistance to the various networks established in the countries in question;- 96 rural information and promotion carrefours, whose task is to give information on the Community to rural communities;- 233 Euro-info centres (EIC) which give advice and disseminate information on the single market to firms in particular, to small and medium-sized firms and craft industries; the aim is to encourage their integration and broaden their participation in Community activities and programmes and to give them easier access to public contracts;- 10 cross-border consumer information centres which have been set up to provide specialist advice and information and to show consumers how to defend themselves when they are confronted with cross-border matters or problems.