Eurolang Newsletter

[Harold F. Schiffman]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The European Commission calls for action to promote languages and launches
a new Web portal
Bruxelles - Brussel, 22/11/2005 von Davyth Hicks

The European Commission adopted its first ever Communication today on the
issue of multilingualism and linguistic diversity under the watchword: The
more languages you know, the more of a person you are.

Committee of the Regions takes the lead as Basque, Catalan and Galician
used in an EU institution
Bruxelles - Brussels, 18/11/2005 von Davyth Hicks

The Committee of the Regions (CoR) took the lead over other EU
institutions on Wednesday when President Peter Straub signed an agreement
with the Spanish Ambassador to the EU, Carlos Sages Bastarreche, approving
the use of Catalan, Basque and Galician in an EU institution for the first
time. Basque MEP Jose Ortuondo and Catalan MEP Ignasi Guardans spoke to
Eurolang on the issue.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny trying 'to do for the language what Riverdance
did for Irish dancing.'
Baile Atha Cliath, 17/11/2005 von Eoghan O Neill
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny claimed yesterday that his plan to make Irish
optional in secondary schools was trying "to do for the language what
Riverdance did for Irish dancing."  It was an assertion which didn't
impress the 300 odd students and young people who descended on Fine Gael
headquarters in Dublin, Wednesday, to protest.

Controversy as Irish opposition leader Enda Kenny calls for Irish to be
made an optional subject
Baile Atha Cliath, 15/11/2005 von Eoghan O Neill

Opposition leader Enda Kenny has provoked the ire of Irish speakers and
political opponents by calling for Irish to be made an optional subject
for Leaving Certificate pupils at secondary school. Education Minister
Mary Hanafin immediately attacked the Fine Gael leader for "using Irish as
a political football."

Spanish finalise accord over the use of Basque, Catalan and Galician in
the EU
Bruxelles - Brussel, 14/11/2005 von Davyth Hicks

An accord reached at last week's EU Ministers' meeting between Spain and
the EU has confirmed Junes decision that Spains regional languages -
Catalan, Basque and Galician - can be used at official meetings and in
correspondence.

http://www.eurolang.net/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1&lang=en