WRITTEN QUESTION E-2342/01 by Pat Gallagher (UEN) to the Commission. Minority and regional languages — access to new technologies.
Date: 2001-08-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, cultural pluralism, information society, language teaching, minority language, new technology, regional language

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/115

(2002/C 93 E/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2341/01

by Pat Gallagher (UEN) to the Commission

(1 August 2001)

Subject: Minority and regional languages (cid:26) establishment of multiannual programme

Does the Commission share the view that more than forty regional and minority languages spoken in
Europe form a unique part of the continent’s cultural heritage? Is it prepared to establish a multiannual
programme that will have as its objective the promotion and safeguarding of the minority and regional
languages of the European Union?

(2002/C 93 E/136)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2342/01

by Pat Gallagher (UEN) to the Commission

(1 August 2001)

Subject: Minority and regional languages (cid:26) access to new technologies

Does the Commission believe that access to new information and communication technologies is an
essential factor in the promotion of minority and regional language? What measures does it propose to
provide for such access and promotion?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2340/01, E-2341/01 and E-2342/01
given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(17 October 2001)

The Commission does share the view that regional and minority languages form a unique part of Europe’s
cultural heritage. Paragraph 4 of Article 151 (ex Article 128) of the EC Treaty states that the Community
shall take cultural aspects into account in its action under other provisions of the EC Treaty, in particular
in order to respect and to promote the diversity of its cultures, and this provision also applies to languages
as a medium of cultural expression and transmission. Initiatives involving regional or minority languages
are elegible for funding under a wide range of Community programmes and actions, including those cited
by the Honourable Member, insofar as they contribute to the objectives of the action in question. The only
exceptions are certain actions of the Socrates programme, in particular the Lingua action, targetted at the
less widely used official languages of the Union, plus Irish and Luxembourgish.

Under the Fifth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (R & D), the Specific
Programme on a ‘User-friendly information society’, has among its aims, under the Key Action on
‘Multimedia content and tools’,
the
language aspects. Furthermore, under the Specific programme ‘Improving Human
consideration of
Potential’, the Key Action on the ‘Improving the socio-economic knowledge base’
invites research on
linguistic parameters in the course of the shaping of civic values.

to enable linguistic and cultural diversity,

thus allowing for

Access to modern communication media is important to the continued vitality of less widely used
languages and initiatives involving lesser-used languages are elegible for support under programmes
managed by the Information Society Directorate General, such as the e-Content programme, which forms
part of the e-Europe initiative and aims to stimulate the development and use of European digital content
on the global networks and to promote linguistic diversity in the information society.

The Commission has no immediate plans to propose a programme specifically aimed at promoting
regional and minority languages. However,
it
intends to draw conclusions from the many events and initiatives taking place during the year and from
the wide-ranging public debate on languages and language issues that this initiative has stimulated in order
to develop a longer-term strategy for linguistic diversity and language learning in the Union.

in the wake of the European Year of Languages 2001,

C 93 E/116

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

The Cohesion Fund is used for large scale infrastructure investments in the environment and transport
sector and thus investments in minority and regional languages are unlikely to be eligible.

The purpose of the Structural Funds is to further economic and social cohesion through growth and
employment. While projects that have the sole purpose of promoting minority and regional languages are
not eligible, the Structural Funds can contribute to tourism development and cultural investments. These
could be relevant to regional and minority languages. In the past the Structural Funds have supported, for
example, various measures of economic support specifically for the Gaeltacht area in Ireland, TV
broadcasts on the Union in the Welsh language and infrastructure investments for the University of
Corsica (France).

(2002/C 93 E/137)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2347/01

by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission

(3 August 2001)

Subject: Cambodia

In what manner do the European Commission’s relations with Cambodia contribute to ending the
systematic corruption in that country and the political repression by the government, in particular as
regards the intimidation of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, several of whose activists were killed over the
last few months?

What policy measures has the Commission developed to enhance the legitimacy of the local elections,
scheduled to take place on 3 February 2002?

Do the audits of EU development projects in Cambodia give an indication that corruption and fraud are
declining, in particular as regards the PRASAC 2 and PRASAC 3 projects?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 2001)

The Commission attaches great importance,
addressing the need for good governance, respect for human rights and the elimination of corruption.

in relations between the Union and Asian countries, to

In all its relations with Cambodia, the Commission, together with Member States, continues to press for
to the
effective implementation of human rights and good governance. These issues are central
Community’s Cooperation Strategy with Cambodia and,
in common with other donors, underpin all
cooperation projects. In its ongoing bilateral contacts with the Cambodian authorities, the Commission
takes every opportunity to emphasise the need to strengthen respect for civil and political rights in
Cambodia and to convey any specific concerns.

On 26 July 2001, the Commission confirmed its readiness to provide support for the local elections in
February 2002, since they constitute a further important step in strengthening democracy in Cambodia.
The Commission will be making available technical assistance to the National Electoral Commission (NEC)
and to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the exact details of which are now being finalised
following an expert mission. The Commission, together with the Member States, is also currently assessing
the possibility of fielding a European Union Observation Mission for the elections. In its contacts in this
respect with the Cambodian authorities, the Commission has stressed the importance of a violence- and
intimidation-free environment before and during the elections as well as an objective,
impartial and
professional attitude of the NEC in the whole process.