WRITTEN QUESTION P-3090/00 by Eurig Wyn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Macedonian language in Greece.
Date: 2000-09-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Union, European symbol, Macedonia, minority language, multilingualism, official language, regional language

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/239

The Treaty of Amsterdam reinforced the Union(cid:146)s legal instruments to deal with racism and xenophobia in
Europe. The provisions of the Treaty on European Union on police and judicial co-operation in criminal
matters expressly state that the Union will take steps to prevent and combat racism and xenophobia. The
new Article 29 of the EC Treaty cites the prevention and combating of racism and xenophobia as one of
the prime objectives of efforts to achieve an area of freedom, security and justice.

On the basis of former Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union, the Council adopted on 15 July 1996
a Joint Action concerning action to combat racism and xenophobia (1). The main objective was to facilitate
effective judicial co-operation between the Member States to deal with the problem, by preventing
perpetrators from taking advantage of differences in legislation within the Union in order to escape
justice. A second report on the implementation of the Joint Action is due for the end of the year 2000. On
the basis of the results of this report, the Commission will assess the need for other measures in this field
which could cover, for example, the spread of this type of crime on the Internet.

On the basis of Article 13 of the EC Treaty, the Council has taken action to combat discrimination,
including discrimination based on race or ethnic origin (Council Directive of 29 June 2000, 2000/43/EC
implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin (2)).
The Council and the Parliament are continuing to work on the proposal for a directive establishing a
general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (3). A Commission proposal for a
Council decision establishing a Community action programme to combat discrimination is also pending
before the Council and the Parliament (4). In addition, the Commission will promote awareness raising
campaigns to combat racism and xenophobia, especially in the education field.

The European Monitoring Centre on racism and xenophobia in Vienna monitors the situation in the Union
and collects information about the prevalence of racism and the effectiveness of means to prevent and
fight it. Its prime objective is to provide the Community and its Member States with objective, reliable and
comparable data on the phenomena of racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism, in order to help them when
they take action or determine measures within their respective spheres of competence. The Centre can also
formulate conclusions and opinions for the Community and its Member States. National authorities are
responsible for dealing with specific incidents and for putting in place measures to prevent racism, using
support from Community programmes and, where it is useful, from the Monitoring Centre.

(1) OJ L 185, 24.7.1996.
(2) OJ L 180, 19.7.2000.
(3) COM(1999) 565 final.
(4) COM(1999) 567 final.

(2001/C 113 E/262)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3090/00

by Eurig Wyn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(25 September 2000)

Subject: Macedonian language in Greece

Languages are part of the richness of Europe. With the next European Year of Languages, the European
institutions have shown the need to prioritise this issue. Beyond the official recognition of some national
languages in the European institutions, it is also vital that the Union and its Member States attend to the
protection of Europe(cid:146)s linguistic and cultural diversity, especially the lesser used languages.

Several international charters recognise the right of citizens to maintain and develop their own languages.
On 16 March 2000, the European Parliament voted for such a reference in its report on a European Union
Charter of Fundamental Rights.

C 113 E/240

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

In Greece, the Macedonian language has no official recognition. Despite the fact that this language is
widely used in some areas, it simply does not exist in the education system or in the mass media.

the Citizens has to promote the protection and
Does the Commission consider that a Europe of
languages? Would the Commission consider supporting projects coming from
development of all
organisations acting in favour of the Macedonian language in Greece? Which concrete actions will the
Commission propose in the context of the European Year of Languages?

Does the Commission monitor the process of signing and ratification of the European Charter for Regional
and Minority Languages? Would the Commission recommend, as the European Parliament did on 16 March
2000, signing and ratifying it?

Answer given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Respect for linguistic and cultural diversity is one of the cornerstones of the European integration process,
and the Commission keeps a very close watch on the linguistic situation in the various Member States and
of the regional and minority language groups. It commissioned a study on this subject, which took stock
of
the indigenous regional and minority language communities. This study, called
includes an analysis of the Slavo-Macedonian community in Greece. However, very few
Euromosaic,
projects concerning the Macedonian language have been received under the measure carried out by the
Commission to promote and safeguard regional and minority languages and cultures.

the situation of

The main objective of the European Year of Languages is to encourage the citizens of Europe to develop
their language skills and to show them just how rich the European linguistic heritage is, without giving
priority to certain languages or targeting one language in particular. Accordingly, the languages concerned
will be the official
languages of the Community, Irish and Luxembourgish, and the other languages
indicated by the Member States for the purposes of the application of the Decision.

Most of the activities will be financed through a call for proposals and will depend on the projects
proposed by European associations and organisations. All the projects proposed will have to contribute to
the fulfilment of the objectives described in the Decision on the European Year of Languages.

The Commission will finance presentation events in each Member State, and a vast information campaign
will stress the rich variety of languages in Europe.

The European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages is an initiative of the Council of Europe and,
given its importance, the Commission is watching very closely the procedure of the signing and ratification
of the text by the Member States. As in the case of any initiative taken by the Council of Europe, the
Member States are free to decide whether or not to adopt the text. On the basis of the principle of
subsidiarity,
it would therefore be inappropriate for the Commission to intervene in relation to their
decision concerning the signing or ratification of the Charter.

(2001/C 113 E/263)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3091/00

by Karla Peijs (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 September 2000)

Subject: The voluntary agreement proposed by the Commission on the safety of oil tankers operating in

the EU

The Commission has recently presented a package introducing EU legislative measures for improving
maritime safety. In its Communication on the safety of seaborne oil trade, the Commission proposed a
voluntary agreement with industry. In this context, the Commission proposes a thorough discussion
between organisations representing the main operators, which effectively cuts across the current legislative
process.