Debate: The European Commission Guidelines on inclusive language
Date: WEDNESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Margaritis Schinas
Language: EN

These are the words that you can read on the first page of President von der Leyen’s political guidelines, the guidelines she presented to this House in July 2019 before you elected her as President of the European Commission. These same words and this same spirit are the ones that guide the work of this Commission, of a Europe that works for the benefit of all, of a Europe faithful to its motto: ‘United in diversity’. As European institutions, it is our duty to respect the diversity that constitutes our Union because this topic is so important and so sensitive that we have to get it right. At times, it is easy to get it wrong, as we can see from the topic of this debate on an internal staff document never seen by the College of Commissioners, and long withdrawn because it did not serve its intended purpose, nor did it meet all Commission quality standards.  I’m certain you will agree with me that, as EU institutions, we must take care, both in our work and in our communication, to address all sectors and segments of European society.  La diversité remarquable de notre tissu social, de nos langues, de nos cultures et de nos traditions rend l’enjeu d’autant plus intéressant et notre communication doit relever cet enjeu afin que chacun puisse être inclus avec la reconnaissance et le respect de cette diversité tangible. La coexistence pacifique, évidente et hétérogène de tous nos citoyens, de nos cultures et de nos religions en Europe est admirée par le monde entier. Nous devons la célébrer avec fierté et en même temps, nous devons la protéger. Et c’est précisément ceci qui nous distingue des régimes et des idéologies autoritaires et intolérants. C’est pour cela que nous sommes des Européens. L’Europe doit être l’endroit où le respect d’autrui s’épanouit, où la tolérance règne. Des millions d’Européens sont impatients de célébrer Noël et je suis sûr que c’est aussi le cas pour nombre d’entre vous présents dans cet hémicycle, comme c’est le cas pour moi. Les citoyens juifs célèbrent Hanouka, les citoyens musulmans célèbrent la fin du ramadan. Cela va de soi, c’est la réalité de vivre en Europe. C’est la réalité du modèle de société que nous présentons, et nous pouvons tous en être fiers. We are indeed proud of 2000 years of Judeo-Christian culture and traditions in Europe. It is what has made the European Union what it is today, and we are all proud today because we live in a Europe that values and protects all religions equally, as well as the right not to believe in any religion.  Last Friday, as Vice—President in charge of dialogue with religious and non—confessional organisations, I had the pleasure to exchange with religious leaders, in the framework of Article 17 dialogue, with Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhists. In Europe, different religions coexist and thrive. Different traditions are proudly celebrated. Europe’s common values are based on the recognition of the different identities, including religious ones, which constitute the pillars of our Union.  It is inscribed in the preamble of the Treaty of the European Union, when it refers to the inspiration drawn from the cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe, from which we have developed the universal human rights, democracy, equality and the rule of law, as it is the desire to deepen the solidarity between their peoples while respecting their history, their culture and their traditions.  Κυρίες και κύριοι βουλευτές, ως Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση έχουμε μπροστά μας σήμερα πολλές, δύσκολες, σημαντικές και πολύπλοκες προκλήσεις. Πρέπει να παλέψουμε ως ενωμένη Ευρώπη πολλά δύσκολα θέματα: την πανδημία, την ασφάλεια την εργαλειοποίηση των μεταναστευτικών ροών, την ανάκαμψη που θα είναι δίκαιη για όλους.  Είμαι πεπεισμένος ότι μπορούμε και πρέπει να αφοσιωθούμε ακριβώς σε αυτά τα μεγάλα, σε αυτά που μας ενώνουν, να επικεντρώσουμε το ενδιαφέρον μας και τη δυναμική μας στην οριστική καταπολέμηση όλων αυτών που ενώνουν, όχι όλων αυτών που χωρίζουν και διακρίνουν τους Ευρωπαίους. Nothing can, or should, distract us from what unites us and what Europeans expect from us.