WRITTEN QUESTION E-0620/01 by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Respect for regional and minority languages.
Date: 2001-03-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, accession criteria, cultural heritage, cultural policy, heritage protection, minority language, pre-accession strategy, protection of minorities, regional language

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/161

This is why Mr Lamy has called for parliamentary control at European level. This would increase not only
the duty of responsibility with regard to commercial policy but also the effectiveness of that policy,
because the trading partners would then realise that the Commission has full support in its negotiations
from the democratically elected representatives of the European people.

Does the Council subscribe to the Commission(cid:146)s view that parliamentary control at European level would
not only increase the duty of responsibility with regard to commercial policy but also the effectiveness of
that policy, because the trading partners would then realise that the Commission has full support in its
negotiations from the democratically elected representatives of the European people?

(cid:129) If so, what action will the Council take to ensure full parliamentary control of European commercial

policy?

(cid:129) If not, what is the Council(cid:146)s reason for not seeking full parliamentary control at European level despite

the Commission(cid:146)s arguments?

(1) OJ C 163 E, 6.6.2001, p. 190.

Reply

(30 May 2001)

The Council would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to his Written Questions E-4034/00,
E-4036/00 and E-4037/00.

(2001/C 261 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0620/01

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 March 2001)

Subject: Respect for regional and minority languages

In reply to a previous question (E-3702/00) (1) on the diversity of languages in the European Union,
Commissioner Reding said that respect for linguistic and cultural diversity was one of the main principles
of the Union.

The Commissioner also announced that she would inquire into ways of protecting and promoting regional
and minority languages via a special action programme.

1. When exactly will this inquiry be completed, and when can an action programme be launched?

Is the Commission prepared to spell out the Copenhagen criteria(cid:146)s rather vague description of

2.
(cid:145)respect for minorities(cid:146) so that minority languages can be respected and protected?

3. What regulatory action can the Commission take against Member States if the languages legislation
in force in such countries is used only as an additional accession guarantee and if there is absolutely no
intention of affording additional guarantees for the minority in question?

(1) OJ C 174 E, 19.6.2001, p. 119.

C 261 E/162

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2001)

The European Year of Languages will give rise to many events and debates throughout 2001 on
1.
matters relating to European linguistic diversity, particularly regional and minority languages. The
Commission plans to draw lessons from all these initiatives and discussions, and to arrive at conclusions
as early as next year.

2.
The criteria for Membership laid down at the Copenhagen European Council in 1993 include (cid:145)the
respect for and protection of minorities(cid:146). In assessing progress made by the candidate countries with regard
to this criterion, the Commission devotes particular attention to the respect for, and the implementation
of, the various principles laid down in the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of
National Minorities, including those related to the use of minority languages.

3.
As of 1997, the Commission has regularly assessed progress made by the candidate countries in
meeting the Copenhagen criteria, first in its 1997 Opinions, and subsequently in its Regular Reports
adopted in the autumn of 1998, 1999 and 2000 respectively.

In order to help the candidate countries remedy the specific weaknesses and shortcomings identified in the
Regular Reports, the Community has established an Accession Partnership for each of the candidate
countries. These Accession Partnerships put forward short and medium-term priorities for each country to
fulfil the accession criteria. They also indicate the financial assistance available from the Community in
support of these priorities and the conditions attached to that assistance. They are updated on a regular
basis.

The regular assessment of progress made by the candidate countries in meeting the requirements set by the
Copenhagen political criteria, supported by the Accession Partnerships, has led to positive developments in
all candidate countries, also as regards respect for minority rights and the protection of minorities,
including the use of minority languages. The Commission continues its work in this direction.

(2001/C 261 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0621/01

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(2 March 2001)

Subject: Belgian visas

The injudicious issuing of Belgian visas is a matter which needs to be looked at under the third pillar of
the European Union (justice and home affairs), in particular because the temporary right of residence in
the Belgian Federation automatically confers access to all Schengen countries. Such rights of residence are
worth their weight in gold to criminals and they throw the immigration sector wide open to corruption.

Last year Belgium issued some 9 500 visas to Moroccan applicants. Roughly 88 % of these visas (for both
short-term and long-term periods) were issued by the Aliens Service in Brussels, despite an opinion to the
contrary from the consular services in Morocco. Hence, despite the fact that the applications fail to satisfy
the criteria, such opinion is systematically ignored.

Some applicants have openly said that they have no intention of travelling to Belgium, but rather to one of
the other Schengen countries where the issuing of visas is subject to stricter rules.

This is why the opinion of the consular services is negative, but the Aliens Service invariably replies that
the visa still has to be issued to the applicant. It is feared that more and more traffickers in humans will try
to enter the EUJ via Morocco.