EBLUL presents 'Package for Linguistic Diversity' as contribution to the

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Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 18:54:37 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: EBLUL presents 'Package for Linguistic Diversity' as contribution to the 

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EBLUL presents 'Package for Linguistic Diversity' as
contribution to the Convention


PRESS RELEASE

EBLUL presents ‘Package for Linguistic Diversity’ as contribution to
the Convention

Strasbourg, 14.03.02 – Today the European Bureau for Lesser-Used
Languages (EBLUL) presented the ‘Package for Linguistic Diversity’ in
the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The package is EBLUL’s
contribution to the Convention on the Future of the European Union.

Linguistic and cultural diversity gets more and more important in the
light of the enlargement of the European Union. At the same time there
is a tendency of the European states not to increase the power of the
Union. Keeping these developments in mind, EBLUL has together with a
high level group of experts elaborated three proposals for a
linguistically diverse future of the European Union. These proposals
would give the EU the opportunity to deal with this cultural and
linguistic variety, while maintaining the legislative competence
within the Member States.

The proposals were elaborated at a meeting of the High Level Group of
Experts convened by EBLUL in Bilbao two weeks ago.  The aim behind
this initiative was to come up with several suggestions for promoting
linguistic diversity, including lesser-used languages, in the new
EU-Treaties.  Among the different high-class experts attending the
meeting, were also experts of the UN, the OSCE and the Council of
Europe.

The main purpose of the three proposals made at the meeting is to give
substance to Article 22 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the
European Union stating that ‘The EU shall respect cultural, religious
and linguistic diversity.’

Summarised the three proposals in the ‘Package for Linguistic
Diversity’ are:

1. Including ‘Linguistic Diversity’ in the New EU Treaty
2. Amending Article 13 EC on Non-discrimination
3. Introducing Qualified Majority Voting in Art. 151 EC on Cultural
Policies

For the complete text and explanations of the Package for Linguistic
Diversity please visit EBLUL’s homepage www.eblul.org/futurum

EUROPEAN BUREAU FOR
LESSER USED LANGUAGES (EBLUL)
www.eblul.org

Rue Saint-Josse 49/Sint-Jooststraat 49
B-1210 Bruxelles/Brussel

TEL: 0032/2/ 250 31 64
FAX: 0032/2/ 218 19 74

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