WRITTEN QUESTION E-1730/00 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Commission linguistic policy and the safeguard and promotion of minority and regional languages.
Date: 2000-05-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, minority language, regional language

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/183

(2001/C 53 E/237)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1730/00

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

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Commission linguistic policy and the safeguard and promotion of minority and regional languages

In its joint reply to my parliamentary questions E-0465/00 and E-0478/00 (1), the Commission stated that
it was considering conducting a study into the needs of linguistic minorities in the Union, which could
provide important additional information on this issue. I should like to be promptly informed of future
developments in connection with this matter.

To this end, will the Commission give details of the current state of play on this issue? Specifically, when
will a final decision be made on whether or not a study is to be carried out, and what would be its
objectives and guidelines?

Would the study be carried out internally or externally?

(1) OJ C 374 E, 28.12.2000, p. 82.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(25 July 2000)

The Commission is currently drawing up specifications with a view to launching a call for tenders for a
study dealing specifically with the needs of regional and minority language communities in the European
Union.

The plan is to build on the results of the Euromosaic study carried out in 1992 and extended in 1997 to
cover the three new Member States. The first objective is to study the following aspects of the regional and
minority language communities: the use of the language,
its legal and administrative position, and its
presence in education, the media, public and economic life. The second objective is to take stock of the
various measures taken around Europe to support and promote these languages, and to analyse their cost
and their impact on the use of the languages. The aim of the study would be to enable Community
funding to be better targeted towards those communities that need it most and towards the most effective
promotion measures, taking into account the resources deployed.

A decision on the timetable for the study depends on resolving the legal difficulties surrounding the
execution of the budget heading in question (B3-1000).

(2001/C 53 E/238)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1736/00

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Route of the (cid:145)Atlantic highway(cid:146) and Porriæo (Spain)

(20 May 2000)

Following the presentation of various options for the route of the (cid:145)Atlantic highway(cid:146) in relation to the
locality of Porriæo (Pontevedra province, Spain), the Spanish Ministry of Public Works and the concessio-
naire enterprise have chosen the least environment-friendly option, namely the route running next to the
GÆndaras de Budiæo lagoon, within the area which has been proposed for inclusion in the (cid:145)Natura 2000(cid:146)
network.

This area is included in the register of natural habitats of the Galicia region, pursuant to the order of
28 October 1999 which lists, on a provisional basis, the areas proposed for inclusion in the (cid:145)Natura 2000(cid:146)
network, as natural habitats qualifying for a general protection regime.