WRITTEN QUESTION E-1212/01 by Jean-Charles Marchiani (UEN) to the Council. Languages used in the defence sector in the European Union.
Date: 2001-04-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Eurocorps, common foreign and security policy, linguistic discrimination, official language, use of languages

14.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/25

Furthermore, the reformed programming process for external assistance, set in train over the last year with
the production of Country Strategy Papers for all recipients of EC assistance, requires a systematic analysis
of
the political situation in the partner country including those factors which could impact on
development such as the issues needing to be addressed to promote peace and reconciliation.

In the Balkans, most of the measures taken by the Commission are geared to the process of reconciliation.
The Commission gives very substantial support to the transitional civil administrations, such as the Office
of the High Representative (OHR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the missions of the United Nations in
Kosovo (MINUK) (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY)). The purpose of these transitional administrations
is to shoulder much of the administration of the country and to support local administrations and
governments until they can administer the region in a context of lasting peace.

As regards reconciliation itself, the Commission assists programmes in support of non-nationalist and
independent media, in the knowledge that the media have had a major role in the Balkan conflict. Among
other measures, the SENSE programme supports information on the activities of the International Tribunal
in The Hague.

In assessing these measures, the Commission specifically tries to find out whether its support has achieved
the expected results. The ways in which it does this depend on the nature of the programmes; often
surveys are undertaken among the beneficiaries, both before a programme is designed and to assess its
impact, for example among groups of displaced persons and refugees. The issues referred to, awareness
campaigns and education to reject prejudice, violence and intolerance, are included in such surveys, as are
other issues such as people(cid:146)s capacity to develop activities enabling them to meet their basic needs.

The evaluations conducted by the Commission also cover activities relating to voter education. While the
EU(cid:146)s activities in the field of support for elections is still a crucial
(though not sufficient) factor for
democratisation, voter education ensures that citizens understand their democratic rights and therefore
increases their ability to exercise them. Voter education is important, particularly for those population
groups which have little or no experience of democratic procedures and traditions.

(1) COM(2001) 211 final.

(2002/C 40 E/023)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1212/01

by Jean-Charles Marchiani (UEN) to the Council

(24 April 2001)

Subject: Languages used in the defence sector in the European Union

Can the Council state what languages are used in Eurocorps and the Standing Military Committee?

In view of the fact that French and German are by virtue of demographic realities by far the most widely
spoken mother tongues in the European Union, does it not feel that they ought to be retained (cid:129) both for
historical and political reasons (cid:129) as priority languages within European military structures?

Can it explain the reasons behind the use of English within such structures?

Does it believe, both in the interests of efficiency in time of crisis and in the light of the prevailing cultural
realities in Europe (existence of three major language branches, i.e. Latin and Gallo-Latin, Germanic and
Anglo-Saxon), that it would be appropriate at the very least to limit oneself to the use of French, German
and English?

Given the prospect of the establishment of a genuinely independent European defence policy, does it not
believe that the unjustified and excessive use of English sends out, by analogy, a very poor message to
Europeans?

C 40 E/26

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.2.2002

Reply

(8 October 2001)

The official
languages of the institutions of the European Union are Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish,
French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish. All the texts related to the Common
Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common European Security and Defence Policy (CESDP) which
are submitted to the European Council or to the Council are translated into all these official languages.

However, in the area of the CFSP, as well as in the CESDP which forms an integral part of it, exchanges of
information among Member States and meetings at official level are currently conducted in English and
French on the basis of the Declaration on the use of languages in the field of the CFSP (Declaration No 30,
Treaty of Maastricht).

The rules and practices described above also apply to the Military Committee which is a Council body. The
use of language(s)
in multinational European military structures or formations not belonging to the
European Union, such as Eurocorps, is not a matter for the Council but for the contributing countries.

(2002/C 40 E/024)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1217/01

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Age-based discrimination in access to employment

(24 April 2001)

According to information provided by freelance interpreters who have worked for many years for the
European Parliament, the latter has started to use age as a criterion for employing such workers.

Whether or not freelance interpreters are objectively able to continue working, the European Parliament
has ceased offering contracts to such individuals who are 65 years of age or older.

In the light of Article 13 of the Treaty, what does the Commission think of this development, and does it
consider it acceptable that one of the EU institutions should infringe principles and Community legislation
which it itself approved?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2001)

Since the Honourable Member refers to contracts of freelance interpreters engaged by the Parliament, the
precise question raised by the Honourable Member is best addressed to the Secretariat General of the
Parliament.

However, on the general legal situation, the Commission can inform the Honourable Member that:

(cid:129) Article 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam upholds the principle of non-discrimination,

inter alia on
grounds of age. Council Regulation (EC, ECSC, Euratom) No 628/2000 of 20 March 2000, amending
Regulation (EC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68 laying down the Staff Regulations of Officials of the
European Communities and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the Communities (1)
(CEOS), has established that the same conditions of recruitment and remuneration shall apply to
auxiliary conference interpreters whether engaged by the Commission or by the Parliament thereby
ensuring equality of treatment.

(cid:129) As a consequence of the adoption of Regulation (EC, ECSC, Euratom) No 628/2000, title III of the
CEOS applies to all auxiliary interpreters working for the Communities. Article 74 of that same title
states that the legal retirement age for auxiliary agents is 65 years. There are equivalent provisions in
the Member States(cid:146) public services. Moreover, relevant Community texts establishing a general