WRITTEN QUESTION E-2462/01 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Extinction of languages world-wide.
Date: 2001-09-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Union, European cultural event, cultural pluralism, minority language, public awareness campaign, regional language

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/135

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(18 October 2001)

Both in the Commission’s own scientific bodies (such as the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee
on Fisheries (STECF)) and in the scientific committees of the regional fisheries organisations in which the
Community is represented, the participation of Community scientists always includes scientists of all
Member States with an interest in the resources in question.

In fact, in all scientific bodies, Member States are usually very well represented and Spain and Portugal are
extremely active participants.

Consequently, there is not the slightest reason to assert that Portuguese and Spanish scientists are excluded
from Community and international scientific fisheries organisations.

(2002/C 93 E/161)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2462/01

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 September 2001)

Subject: Extinction of languages world-wide

Various studies indicate that if the present rate of language death continues, over half the current 6 800
languages spoken worldwide will have disappeared by the year 2100, a figure which exceeds the forecast
loss of plant species. What is the European Union doing to help prevent or palliate this disastrous cultural
impoverishment, not only of the peoples concerned but of all human remedy?

(2002/C 93 E/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2464/01

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(11 September 2001)

Subject: France’s other languages

All European citizens should demand 6 like those within the Spanish State who for social and family
purposes use a language other than the one deemed official 6 that those Member States which at present
continue to practise discriminatory policies with regard to languages spoken by full citizens should amend
such unambiguously anti-democratic behaviour and recognise the full official nature of these languages in
the internal regions concerned, providing support for their use. Such demands particularly affect France.
What action is the Commission taking in this respect vis-à-vis the French Government?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2462/01 and E-2464/01
given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(17 October 2001)

Article 151 (ex article 128) of the EC Treaty affirms the importance of the Member States’ cultural diversity,
emphasising that this diversity is the common heritage of all Europeans.

The joint initiative of the European Union and the Council of Europe to declare 2001 the European Year
of Languages (on the basis of Articles 149 and 150 (ex articles 126 and 127) of
the EC Treaty)
demonstrates the same desire to celebrate Europe’s linguistic diversity and raise European citizens’
awareness of this common treasure.

However,
language regime at national level.

it is up to the Member States themselves or their responsible authorities to determine the