MINELRES: EBLUL celebrates its 20-year anniversary and the European Day of Languages

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Margret Oberhofer <margret@eblul.org>


PRESS RELEASE  - French and German version attached

EBLUL celebrates its 20-year anniversary and the European Day of
Languages

Brussels, 25.09.02 � The European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages
(EBLUL) has for 20 years worked for languages and linguistic diversity
in Europe. Today, EBLUL celebrates this year�s even anniversary with a
reception in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

�The consciousness of the Europeans for lesser-used languages has grown
within the last twenty years�, says Bojan Brezigar, President of EBLUL,
convinced. �But there is still a lot to do, as Europe is far from a
practical implementation of the principles stated in the EU Charter of
Fundamental Rights.�

Looking into the future Brezigar says that the aim of EBLUL is to
achieve a basic standard for the protection and promotion of regional or
minority languages by implementing the principle of linguistic
diversity. �Even if we know that the situation differs from state to
state, or even from community to community, we understand that a certain
general understanding of this issue is needed. In order to reach this
goal, some competences should be given to the EU and a specific legal
basis on regional and minority languages should be adopted,� Brezigar
states.

It is not a coincidence that EBLUL celebrates its anniversary today. The
date is closely connected to the European Day of Languages on the 26
September, proclaimed by the Council of Europe last year as an annual
event. This is the result of the enthusiasm with which this day, but
also the European Year of Languages in general, was celebrated in 2001.
�We appreciate it very much that linguistic diversity will be celebrated
not only within the European Union but also in the 45 member states of
the Council of Europe,� says Markus Warasin, Secretary General of EBLUL.
�It is a good acknowledgement for EBLUL�s motto �Unity in diversity�. It
also shows that the linguistic diversity is a valuable heritage for all
Europeans, not only the speakers of lesser-used languages.�

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