<div dir="ltr"><h2 class="">Language, Identity & Power- What Future for Minority Languages in Europe?</h2>
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<img src="http://unpo.org/imgi/p/3092.jpg" alt="">
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<div class=""><p style="text-align:justify"><strong>On
24 February 2015, Csaba Sógor MEP organized a conference entitled
“Language, Identity & Power: What Future for Minority Languages in
Europe”, with Herbert Dorfmann (EPP) and Jill Evans (EFA/Greens) MEPs,
in cooperation with the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
(UNPO), the European Free Alliance (EFA) and the Centre Maurits
Coppieters (CMC).</strong><strong> </strong></p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The International Mother Tongue
Day, observed annually on 21 February, provided a symbolic backdrop for
the discussions. With around 60 participants, from various European
minority groups, EU institutions, Council of Europe, and human rights
NGOs, the conference was a definite success, shining a light on Europe’s
unrecognized, unprotected and even endangered languages. The conference
was also well-attended by MEPs across different political groups,
including Tatjana Ždanoka (EFA/Greens), Mark Demesmaeker (ECR), József
Nagy (EPP), Pál Csáky (EPP), Iuliu Winkler (EPP), Josu Juaristi Abaunz
(GUE/NGL), Krisztina Morvai (NI), as well as former MEP François
Alfonsi. </strong></p></div> <p style="text-align:justify">In their opening remarks, <strong>MEPs </strong><strong>Csaba
Sógor, Herbert Dorfmann and Jill Evans reminded the audience about the
significance of multilinguism as an engine for the European Union to
engage with its citizens, stressing that linguistic diversity in Europe
cannot be underestimated, but should instead remain a question of
fundamental rights, equality and democracy. </strong>While the
importance of linguistic diversity is widely recognized, a lot more
needs to be done in order for minority and regional languages to survive
and thrive.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify">"We have seen a shift in recent years,
including in my own European political party, the EPP, to increase
attention to the issues traditional minorities are facing today.
However, national governments are still responsible for the preservation
and promotion of minority and regional languages. More can and should
be done on a European level to incentivize this" stated Csaba Sógor.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify">An introductory speech was given by <strong>Mr</strong> <strong>Vicent Climent-Ferrando (NPLD)</strong>,
focusing on the legal landscape for minority language protection in
Europe. He demonstrated the vast array of attitudes, approaches and
recognitions of languages across Europe. In his speech, he noted that
while the European institutions do recognize minority languages, he
conceded that many minority and migrant languages are excluded from
regional protection mechanisms, such as the European Charter for
Regional and Minority Languages.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify">The conference looked into the use (and
misuse) of language as a political tool, both as a cause and a possible
solution to intercultural conflicts and tensions. <strong>Mr</strong> <strong>Zolt</strong><strong>á</strong><strong>n K</strong><strong>á</strong><strong>ntor</strong> <strong>(Research Institute for Hungarian Minorities Abroad)</strong>
took the floor and questioned, why does protecting mother tongues
matter? He explained that States tend to follow a policy of linguistic
and cultural homogenization, while minorities tend to resist
assimilation. This analysis raised the question, who has the power to
decide and implement language policy?</p>
<p style="text-align:center"><img style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://unpo.org/downloads/1264.jpg" alt="" height="412" width="616"></p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Mr Sebahattin Abdurrahman (Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe) </strong>talked
about the particular case of the Turkish community in Western Thrace,
providing the audience with examples of linguistic discrimination in
education, health care, and public spaces. He stressed the importance
of dialogue between State actors and minority groups in order to
determine the needs and concerns of under-represented and
under-recognized communities.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Mr Rudi Janssens (Free University of Brussels - BRIO) </strong>provided
an account of linguistic protection and promotion in the Belgian
context with a particular focus on the bilingual case of Brussels,
concluding that multilingualism is cementing Brussels society through
the instrumental use of language, and with it, diminishing
confrontations between linguistic groups.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><strong>Mr Paul Videsott (Free University of Bolzano) </strong>opened
the second panel by introducing the audience with the case of the Ladin
community in South Tyrol - one of Europe’s smallest and most endangered
ethnic and linguistic minorities. He discussed how education in Ladin
is crucial for the survival of the community, since language is an
essential element of cultural identity. He concluded that the protection
of linguistic minority rights is a human rights obligation in areas of
such as education and social dialogue.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify">Similarly, <strong>Mr Hannes Wilhelm-Kell (Lausatian Alliance)</strong>
shared his own personal experience of learning Wendish, calling for
more State funding and support in education, since school subjects
exclude any mention of Wendish history, literature, and art.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify">The conference came to a close with the speech by <strong>Mr Johan Häggman (multilinguism expert)</strong>,
who dissected stipulations of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the
EU, noting that its scope is very limited and does not establish any new
powers. “Language policy is a competence of Member States and there is
no legal basis for a European competence yet”, he said. He also
explained that funding tools are very limited, and accessing financial
support has become increasingly difficult for language organizations.</p>
<p style="text-align:center"><img style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://unpo.org/downloads/1265.jpg" alt="" height="412" width="616"></p>
<p style="text-align:justify">The conference explored the different
possible arrangements for linguistic minorities in Europe, evaluating
how the European Union and the Council of Europe could strengthen
minority and regional language protection and promotion within their
legal framework. Many speakers agreed that the European Parliament has
the right to initiate legislation, but it doesn’t use it sufficiently in
terms of linguistic minority protection and promotion.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify">The high turnout to the conference
showed the importance of implementing legal frameworks and concrete
measures aimed at protecting and promoting regional and minority
languages in Europe. Future activities on this topic are planned in
order to raise more awareness and develop concrete strategies to reach
these goals. Furthermore, the EPP Group is organizing a hearing on
national minorities in Europe on the 22nd of April.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify">A report on the conference, including transcripts of all speeches, will be available soon. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify"> </p>
<p style="text-align:justify">To look at the conference programme, please click <a href="http://unpo.org/downloads/1261.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify">To read the speakers' biographies, please click <a href="http://unpo.org/downloads/1259.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify">To read the conference briefing note, please click <a href="http://unpo.org/downloads/1260.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
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