EU: Importance of multilingualism will not diminish

[Harold Schiffman]

Interview: Importance of multilingualism 'will not
diminish'[fr<http://www.euractiv.com/fr/culture/entretien-importance-multilinguisme-affaiblira/article-171273>
][de<http://www.euractiv.com/de/kultur/interview-wichtigkeit-mehrsprachigkeit-abnehmen/article-171274>
]  Published: Wednesday 2 April 2008

The multilingualism portfolio is too important to be sacrificed by the next
European Commission, Multilingualism Commissioner Leonard Orban said in an
interview with EurActiv Romania. As proof of this, Turkish could become the
next official EU language provided that Cyprus concludes reunification
talks, he indicated.


More on this:

   - EU translation policy 'here to
stay'<http://www.euractiv.com/en/culture/eu-translation-policy-stay/article-170516>
   - EU to promote language learning as
'leisure'<http://www.euractiv.com/en/culture/eu-promote-language-learning-leisure/article-169978>
   - Interview: Multilingualism 'declining' in
EU<http://www.euractiv.com/en/culture/interview-multilingualism-declining-eu/article-167257>

 "The importance of this office […] shall consolidate the continuation of
this policy," said Orban, highlighting the progress that is still to come.
Far from diminishing in importance for the next period, "it is possible that
[multilingualism] may stay as a separate portfolio" with its own
commissioner, he said. Language policy is a sensitive issue at EU level
because it is strongly linked to national identity and infringes upon
education policy, a national competence. It currently accounts for €1.1bn,
or 1% of the EU budget. Revealing the next big moves in EU language policy,
Orban said there is a "real, serious possibility" that Turkish may become an
official EU language, providing talks to reunify the island of Cyprus
succeed.

But he could not provide a timeframe. For this to happen, a "political
solution to end the island's conflict" must be reached and the Cypriot
government must request that Turkish become an official language, whereupon
the Council would have to agree unanimously, he explained. The commissioner
went on to stress the "privileged position" of French at EU level, which was
not related "in any way" to the number of seats in the European Parliament
but rather the importance of the French language throughout "the entire
history of the European Union". Thus he said he is "delighted" to present
the "Political Strategy on Multilingualism" during the French EU
Presidency.

Indeed, the Commission is set to present its new strategy for
multilingualism in September this year (EurActiv
19/02/08<http://www.euractiv.com/en/culture/eu-multilingualism-strategy-focus-language-learning/article-170364>),
with a report[image: Pdf] [image: external]
<http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/doc/multireport_en.pdf>from a
High Level Group on Multilingualism chaired by Franco-Lebanese writer Amin
Maalouf calling for EU citizens to learn at least two foreign languages.
These would include a 'personal adoptive language' studied for personal
interest rather than professional reasons. Asked whether the Commission
would take the Maalouf report's conclusions into account when developing the
new strategy, Orban said: "I wish for this to happen". EU funding for "any
ideas to promote linguistic diversity" could be found, but it is "all about
a vision" at this stage, "and any vision takes years to achieve," he added.

Nevertheless, the 'personal adoptive' language idea was "interesting," the
commissioner said. Personal adoptive languages would be learned "by each
European citizen" and considered "close not only to mind but also close to
the heart". But Orban stressed that the "independent" report "does not
express the European Commission standpoint". "It is still premature to say
whether [it] will be included in the new Strategy for Multilingualism" and
in any case the member states would be "the final step in enforcing the
proposal," he added.

For full text of interview click here:
http://www.euractiv.com/en/culture/orban-importance-multilingualism-diminish/article-171265

http://www.euractiv.com/en/culture/interview-importance-multilingualism-diminish/article-171266

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