WRITTEN QUESTION E-0605/03 by Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop (PSE) to the Commission. Establishment of an agency for the promotion of linguistic diversity.
Date: 2003-03-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU office or agency, EU policy, action programme, cultural heritage, cultural policy, heritage protection, language teaching

C 192 E/206

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.8.2003

(2003/C 192 E/247)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0605/03

by Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop (PSE) to the Commission

(3 March 2003)

Subject: Establishment of an agency for the promotion of linguistic diversity

At the beginning of February 2003 the European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages (EBLUL) held a special
meeting in Charleroi at which it adopted a resolution calling in particular on the European Union to set up
an agency responsible for promoting linguistic diversity and language learning (a model for which could be
the Vienna-based European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia).

In view of the particular wealth and variety of languages in the European Union and the fact that, in a
little over a year, 10 new countries will join the EU, and given that over 40 million people in the EU
currently speak a minority language on a daily basis (whereas (cid:1) for want of a legal basis, amongst other
things (cid:1) there is no real policy for protecting and promoting minority languages in the EU), what does the
Commission think of the proposal adopted by the EBLUL? Does it not consider the establishment of such
an agency in the EU to be essential as a means of implementing a proper policy designed to promote
linguistic diversity and language learning in an enlarged EU? Will it consider incorporating the above
proposal into its forthcoming Action Plan on linguistic diversity and language learning, or appending it
thereto? Does it intend to submit an appropriate proposal to the Council?

Answer given by Mr Reding on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 2003)

The Commission is aware of the resolution recently adopted by the European Bureau for Lesser-Used
Languages (EBLUL), a body which receives most of its funding from the Community.

The document makes a large number of observations and some proposals, of which the establishment of
an agency to promote linguistic diversity and language learning is one.

‘Promoting language learning and linguistic diversity’ (1)
The Commission’s consultation document
proposes the adoption of an inclusive approach in which regional and minority languages are included.
One of the questions put forward in the discussion document concerns the ways in which the Union could
support Member States in promoting linguistic diversity.

The document was the basis for a wide-ranging public consultation, ending on 28 February 2003, the
results of which the Commission is now in the process of analysing. A Consultation Conference is also
planned for April 2003.

The Commission’s Action Plan to promote language learning and linguistic diversity will be based on
actions using resources available in existing community programmes and activities and is due to be
adopted in mid 2003.

In drawing it up, the Commission will carefully consider all proposals made by organisations or individuals
in response to its consultation and will analyse carefully the proposal made by EBLUL. At this stage,
however, before the consultation exercise and the analysis of all responses is completed, the Commission is
not in a position to comment on any of the particular proposals it has received.

(1) SEC(2002) 1234.