WRITTEN QUESTION E-3702/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE), Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE), Pere Esteve (ELDR), Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE), Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE), Luciano Caveri (ELDR), Carles-Alfred Gasòliba i Böhm (ELDR), Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE), Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) and Jillian Evans (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Language diversity in the European Union.
Date: 2000-11-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, accession negotiations, cultural heritage

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/119

Furthermore Council Regulation (EC) No 975/1999 of 29 April 1999 laying down the requirements for
the implementation of development co-operation operations (1), and Council Regulation (EC) No 976/1999
of 29 April 1999 laying down the requirements for the implementation of Community operations, other
than those of development co-operation, which, within the framework of Community cooperation policy,
contribute to the general objective of developing and consolidating democracy and the rule of law and to
that of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms in third countries1, state that Community
action should focus on those discriminated against or suffering from poverty or disadvantage, including
children. Community support has been targeted at projects in six main areas between 1996 and 1999.

In the field of humanitarian aid the Commission is giving special emphasis on the situation of children in
conflicts and is actively engaged in the campaign against the use of child soldiers. Many Commission-
funded NGO projects are specially targeted for children.

The Commission will participate in co-ordination with the Member States in the preparatory process and
Special Session for Children and is considering submitting to the Special Session a factual document
providing an overview over its activities in support of children, including in the field of development co-
operation.

(1) OJ L 120, 8.5.1999.

(2001/C 174 E/123)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3702/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE), Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE),
Pere Esteve (ELDR), Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE), Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE),
Luciano Caveri (ELDR), Carles-Alfred Gas(cid:242)liba i B(cid:246)hm (ELDR),
Concepci(cid:243) Ferrer (PPE-DE), Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE)
and Jillian Evans (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Language diversity in the European Union

Languages are part of the richness of Europe. With next year(cid:146)s European Year of Languages, the European
institutions have acknowledged the need to accord this issue an important place. 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 protecting the diversity of the languages and cultures of Europe. On several
occasions the Commission has announced its commitment to proposing a Community programme for
lesser-used languages.

Several international charters recognise the right of citizens to maintain and develop their own languages.
On 16 March 2000 Parliament adopted a reference to that effect in its report on the EU Charter of
Fundamental Rights.

Does the Commission consider that a Europe of the Citizens has a duty to promote the protection and
development of all languages? What concrete action will the Commission propose in the context of the
European Year of Languages? When is the Commission planning to propose a solid legal basis for a
specific programme at European level in favour of the lesser-used languages?

Is the Commission monitoring the process of signature and ratification of the European Charter for
Regional and Minority Languages by the 15 Member States of
the European Union? Would the
Commission recommend, as Parliament did on 16 March, signing and ratifying it?

Is the Commission going to raise this issue in the accession negotiations with the applicant countries?

C 174 E/120

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2001)

Respect for linguistic and cultural diversity is one of the fundamental principles of the Union. Article 22 of
the Charter of Fundamental Rights states that (cid:145)The Union shall respect cultural, religious and linguistic
diversity.(cid:146) As well as being a means of communication, language is a fundamental element of individual
and collective identity and a way of expressing and transmitting culture and values. The Commission is
aware that, in order to encourage the development of a European identity and citizenship, measures must
be taken to ensure that citizens learn to appreciate and participate more actively in this linguistic diversity,
a fundamental feature of Europe.

The main objectives of the European Year of Languages are to raise awareness of the richness of linguistic
diversity within the European Union and the advantages of acquiring skills in a range of languages, to
encourage the lifelong learning of languages and to collect and disseminate information about the teaching
of languages. Most of the activities supported will be funded through a call for proposals of projects by
European associations and organisations. The Commission will also be funding a large-scale information
campaign, which will emphasise Europe(cid:146)s rich linguistic diversity, and events to present the Year in each
Member State.

The Commission will be looking at the possibility of presenting a draft programme for safeguarding and
promoting regional and lesser-used languages as a follow-up to the European Year of Languages, so that
the lessons drawn from the activities and debates engendered by this great European event and the specific
preparatory activities can be fully utilised.

The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is a Council of Europe initiative. Because of its
importance and implications, the Commission is following its signature and ratification very closely, as it
does with all Council of Europe initiatives. Member States are free to decide whether or not to adopt
Council of Europe initiatives such as the Charter, and it would not be appropriate for the Commission to
interfere with their decision on whether to sign or ratify this document.

The Copenhagen European Council in June 1993 stipulated that applicant countries would not be able to
join the EU until they were able to fulfil their associated obligations by meeting the economic and political
conditions (known as the (cid:145)Copenhagen criteria(cid:146)). With regard to the political criteria, the Copenhagen
European Council concluded that applicant countries would not be admitted until they had stability of
institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of
minorities. The December 1999 Helsinki European Council reiterated that (cid:145)compliance with the political
criteria laid down at the Copenhagen European Council is a prerequisite for the opening of accession
negotiations and compliance with all the Copenhagen criteria is the basis for accession to the Union.(cid:146) The
Commission submits periodic reports on the progress achieved by the applicant countries to satisfy these
criteria.

(2001/C 174 E/124)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3705/00

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Council

(30 November 2000)

Subject: The treatment of pro-democracy protestors in Belarus

Is the Presidency aware of the suppression of pro-democracy supporters in Belarus? Peaceful demonstrators
from the youth wing of one of Belarus(cid:146) mainstream pro-democracy parties, the Belarusian Front, were
venting their anger at Belarus(cid:146) questionable democratic credentials when they were subjected to violence at
the hands of the police. What are the intentions of the Council to ensure that these human rights
violations are not repeated, especially in the light of Belarus(cid:146) potential entry into the European Union?