Languages of the European Union 493820 225770716 2008-07-15T09:24:55Z 79.132.171.167 /* Regional and minority languages */ The '''languages of the European Union''' are [[language]]s used by people within the member states of the [[European Union]]. They include the twenty-three [[official language]]s of the European Union along with a range of others. The EU asserts that it is in favour of linguistic diversity and currently has a [[European Commissioner for Multilingualism]], [[Leonard Orban]]. In the European Union, [[language policy]] is the responsibility of member states and EU does not have a common language policy; European Union institutions play a supporting role in this field, based on the "principle of [[subsidiarity]]". Their role is to promote cooperation between the member states and to promote the European dimension in the member states language policies. The EU encourages all its citizens to be [[multilingualism|multilingual]]; specifically, it encourages them to be able to speak two languages in addition to their [[mother tongue]]. Though the EU has very limited influence in this area as the content of educational systems is the responsibility of individual member states, a number of EU funding programmes actively promote [[language learning]] and [[linguistic diversity]].&nbsp;<ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/policy/index_en.html EUROPA - Education and Training - Action Plan Promoting language learning and linguistic diversity<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It should be noted that according to statistics the [[plurality]] of EU citizens speaks [[German language|German]], while the [[absolute majority]] can understand [[English language|English]] and speak German, English, [[French language|French]] or [[Italian language|Italian]] as [[mother language]]s. French is an [[official language]] common to the three cities that are [[Location of European Union institutions|political centres]] of the Union: [[Brussels]] ([[Languages of Belgium|Belgium]]), [[Strasbourg]] ([[Language policy in France|France]]) and [[Luxembourg city]] ([[Languages of Luxembourg|Luxembourg]]), while [[Catalan language|Catalan]], [[Galician language|Galician]] and (in the [[Baltic states]]) [[Russian language|Russian]] are the most widely used non-recognized languages in the EU. ==Official EU languages== [[Image:european parliament names.jpg|thumb|upright|Sign in the entrance of the [[European Parliament]] building in [[Brussels]] written in the 20 [[official language]]s used in the [[European Union]] as of July 2006.]] The [[official languages]] of the [[European Union]], as stipulated in the amended EEC Council: Regulation No 1 determining the languages to be used by the European Economic Community of [[1958-04-15]],<ref>[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31958R0001:EN:NOT Council Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 of 20 November 2006], ''Official Journal L 363 of December 12, 2006''. Retrieved on [[February 2]], [[2007]].</ref> are:<ref>http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/languages/index_en.html</ref> {{columns |col1 = *{{flagicon|Bulgaria}} [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]] *{{flagicon|Czech Republic}} [[Czech language|Czech]] *{{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Danish language|Danish]] *{{flagicon|Netherlands}} {{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Dutch language|Dutch]] *{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} {{flagicon|Gibraltar}} plus {{flagicon|Ireland}} {{flagicon|Malta}} [[English language|English]] *{{flagicon|Estonia}} [[Estonian language|Estonian]] *{{flagicon|Finland}} [[Finnish language|Finnish]] *{{flagicon|France}} {{flagicon|Belgium}} {{flagicon|Luxembourg}} [[French language|French]] |col2 = *{{flagicon|Germany}} {{flagicon|Austria}} {{flagicon|Belgium}} {{flagicon|Luxembourg}} {{flagicon|Italy}} [[German language|German]] *{{flagicon|Greece}} {{flagicon|Cyprus}} [[Greek language|Greek]] *{{flagicon|Hungary}} [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] *{{flagicon|Ireland}} ({{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Northern Ireland) [[Irish Language|Irish]] *{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Italian language|Italian]] *{{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Latvian language|Latvian]] *{{flagicon|Lithuania}} [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] *{{flagicon|Malta}} [[Maltese language|Maltese]] |col3 = *{{flagicon|Poland}} [[Polish language|Polish]] *{{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] *{{flagicon|Romania}} [[Romanian language|Romanian]] *{{flagicon|Slovakia}} [[Slovak language|Slovak]] *{{flagicon|Slovenia}} {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Slovene language|Slovene]] *{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Spanish language|Spanish]] *{{flagicon|Sweden}} {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Swedish language|Swedish]] }} The number of member states exceeds the number of official languages, as several national languages are shared by two or more countries. Namely, Dutch is official in the [[Netherlands]] and [[Belgium]], French in [[France]], [[Belgium]] and [[Luxembourg]], German in [[Germany]], [[Austria]], [[Belgium]], [[Luxembourg]] and the [[Italy|italian]] province of [[Province of Bolzano-Bozen|Bolzano-Bozen]], and Greek in [[Greece]] and [[Cyprus]]. English and Swedish are also shared, the former by the [[United Kingdom]] (plus [[Gibraltar]]), [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] and [[Malta]] and the latter by [[Sweden]] and [[Finland]], but the fact that they are co-official in Ireland, Malta and Finland with languages unique to those countries, namely Irish, Maltese and Finnish respectively, means that the overall ratio of member states to national languages is unaffected. Also Slovene is official in the easternmost part of the [[Italy|italian]] region of [[Friuli Venezia Giulia]]. Furthermore, not all national languages have been accorded the status of official EU languages. These include [[Luxembourgish language|Luxembourgish]], an official language of Luxembourg since 1984, and [[Turkish language|Turkish]], an official language of Cyprus. All languages of the EU are also [[working language]]s.<ref>http://europa.eu.int/languages/en/chapter/33</ref> Documents which a Member State or a person subject to the jurisdiction of a Member State sends to institutions of the Community may be drafted in any one of the official languages selected by the sender. The reply shall be drafted in the same language. Regulations and other documents of general application shall be drafted in the twenty-three official languages. The [[Official Journal of the European Union]] shall be published in the twenty-three official languages. Legislation and documents of major public importance or interest are produced in all twenty-three official languages, but that accounts for a minority of the institutions' work. Other documents (e.g. communications with the national authorities, decisions addressed to particular individuals or entities and correspondence) are translated only into the languages needed. For internal purposes the EU institutions are allowed by law to choose their own language arrangements. The [[European Commission]], for example, conducts its internal business in three languages, [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]] and [[German language|German]], and goes fully multilingual only for public information and communication purposes. The [[European Parliament]], on the other hand, has Members who need working documents in their own languages, so its document flow is fully multilingual from the outset.<ref>[http://europa.eu/languages/en/document/59#5 Europa:Languages and Europe. FAQ: Is every document generated by the EU translated into all the official languages?], ''Europa'' portal. Retrieved on [[February 6]], [[2007]].</ref> [[Institutions of the European Union|Non-institutional EU bodies]] are not legally obliged to make language arrangement for all the 23 languages (Kik v. [[Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market|OHIM]], Case No. C-361/01, 2003 [[European Court of Justice|ECJ]] I-8283). According to the EU's English language website,<ref>[http://europa.eu/languages/en/document/59#8 Europa:Languages and Europe. FAQ: What does the EU's policy of multilingualism cost?], ''Europa'' portal. Retrieved on [[February 6]], [[2007]].</ref> the cost of maintaining the institutions' policy of multilingualism (i.e. the cost of translation and interpretation) was €1123 million in 2005, which is 1% of the annual general budget of the EU, or €2.28 per person per year. ====Maltese==== Although [[Maltese language|Maltese]] is an official language, the Council set up a transitional period of three years from [[May 1]], [[2004]], during which the institutions were not obliged to draft all acts in Maltese.<ref>http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2004:169:0001:0002:EN:PDF</ref> It was agreed that the Council could extend this transitional period by an additional year, but decided not to.<ref>http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2006:329:0001:0002:EN:PDF</ref> All new acts of the institutions were required to be adopted and published in Maltese from [[April 30]], [[2007]]. ==== Irish ==== When [[Republic of Ireland| Ireland]] joined the [[European Economic Community| EEC]] (now the [[European Union|EU]]) in 1973, [[Irish language| Irish]] was accorded ''“Treaty Language”'' status. This meant that the founding [[Treaty of Rome|EU Treaty]] was restated in Irish. Irish was also listed in that Treaty and all subsequent EU Treaties as one of the authentic languages of the Treaties.<ref>[http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/index.asp?locID=404&docID=3111 Taoiseach Website Press Release dated 1 January 2007]</ref> As a Treaty Language, Irish was an official procedural language of the [[European Court of Justice]].<ref>Deirdre Fottrell, Bill Bowring - 1999 Minority and Group Rights in the New Millennium.</ref> It was also possible to correspond in written Irish with the EU Institutions. However, despite being the first official language of [[Republic of Ireland| Ireland]] and having been accorded minority-language status in [[Northern Ireland]], Irish was not made an official working language of the EU until [[1 January]] [[2007]]. On that date an EU Council Regulation making Irish an official working language of the EU came into effect.<ref>See: [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_156/l_15620050618en00030004.pdf Council Regulation (EC) No 920/2005].]</ref> This followed a unanimous decision on [[13 June]] [[2005]] by EU foreign ministers that Irish would be made the 21st official language of the EU.<ref>http://ue.eu.int/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/gena/85437.pdf Decision made at 667th Meeting of the [[Council of the European Union]], Luxembourg.</ref> However, a derogation stipulates that not all documents have to be translated into Irish as is the case with the other official languages.<ref>http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_156/l_15620050618en00030004.pdf</ref> <ref>http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-828-269-9-39-901-20050928IPR00827-26-09-2005-2005-IE-false/default_en.htm</ref> The new Regulation means that legislation approved by both the [[European Parliament]] and the [[Council of Ministers]] will now be translated into Irish, and interpretation from Irish will be available at [[European Parliament]] plenary sessions and some Council meetings. The cost of translation, interpretation, publication and legal services involved in making Irish an official EU language is estimated at just under €3.5 million a year.<ref>http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_10002211.shtml</ref> The derogation will be reviewed after four years and every five years thereafter. Irish is the only official language of the Union that is not the most widely spoken language in any Member State. According to the 2006 Irish census figures, there are 1.66 million speakers of Irish in Ireland out of a population of 4.24 million, though only 20,000 use Irish day-to-day.<ref>http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/vol11_entire.pdf</ref> ===Status of regional and minority languages=== The Spanish governments have sought to give some official status in the EU for Basque, Catalan/Valencian and Galician. The 667th Council Meeting of the [[Council of the European Union]] in Luxembourg on [[13 June]] [[2005]] decided to authorise limited use at EU level of languages recognised by Member States other than the official working languages. The Council granted recognition to "languages other than the languages referred to in Council Regulation No 1/1958 whose status is recognised by the Constitution of a Member State on all or part of its territory or the use of which as a national language is authorised by law." The official use of such languages will be authorised on the basis of an administrative arrangement concluded between the Council and the requesting Member State.<ref>http://ue.eu.int/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/gena/85437.pdf</ref> Luxembourgish, an official language of Luxembourg, and Turkish, an official language of Cyprus, have not yet used this provision. ====Catalan, Galician, and Basque==== Although [[Catalan language|Catalan]], [[Galician language|Galician]] and [[Basque language|Basque]] are not nation-wide official languages in Spain, as co-official languages in the respective regions (pursuant to Spain's constitution, among other documents) they are eligible to benefit from official use in EU institutions under the terms of the [[13 June]] [[2005]] resolution of the Council of the European Union. The Spanish government has assented to the provisions in respect of these languages. The status of Catalan, spoken by many millions of citizens, has been the subject of particular debate. On [[11 December]] [[1990]], the use of Catalan was the subject of a [[European Parliament]] Resolution (resolution A3-169/90 on languages in the (European) Community and the situation of [[Catalan language|Catalan]] ([[Official Journal of the European Union|OJ]]-C19, [[28 January]] [[1991]]). On [[November 16]] [[2005]], the [[Committee of the Regions]] President [[Peter Straub (politician)|Peter Straub]] signed an agreement with the Spanish Ambassador to the EU, [[Carlos Sagües Bastarreche]], approving the use of Spanish regional languages in an EU institution for the first time in a meeting on that day, with interpretation provided by [http://europa.eu.int/comm/scic/index_en.htm European Commission interpreters].<ref>http://europa.eu.int/languages/en/document/81/6</ref><ref>http://www.cor.europa.eu/en/press/press_05_11125.html</ref> On [[July 3]] [[2006]], the European Parliament’s Bureau approved a proposal by the Spanish State to allow citizens to address the European Parliament in Basque, Catalan and Galician, two months after its initial rejection.<ref>http://www.ciemen.org/mercator/notidetail.cfm?IDA=897&lg=gb</ref><ref>http://www.barcelonareporter.com/index.php/news/comments/catalan_government_welcomes_european_parliament_language_move/</ref> On [[November 30]] [[2006]], the [[European Ombudsman]], [[Nikiforos Diamandouros]], and the Spanish ambassador in the EU, Carlos Bastarreche, signed an agreement in Brussels to allow Spanish citizens to address complaints to the European Ombudsman in Basque, Catalan/Valencian and Galician, all three co-official languages in Spain.<ref>http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/release/en/2006-11-30a.htm</ref> According to the agreement, a translation body, which will be set up and financed by the Spanish government, will be responsible for translating complaints submitted in these languages. In turn, it will translate the Ombudsman's decisions from Spanish/Castilian into the language of the complainant. Until such a body is established the agreement will not become effective. ====Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Scots==== In response to a written parliamentary question tabled following the [[2005-06-13]] resolution on official use of regional languages, the UK Minister for Europe, [[Douglas Alexander]], stated on [[2005-06-29]] that "The Government have no current plans to make similar provisions for UK languages."<ref>http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo050629/text/50629w13.htm</ref> ====Provision in the proposed constitutional treaty==== The [[Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe]] was drafted in the (that time) 21 official treaty languages of the EU (the official languages, plus Irish), in the languages of three candidate countries: [[Romanian language|Romanian]], [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]], and [[Turkish language|Turkish]] (of which Romania and Bulgaria have now joined the union). It contains the following provision: {{quotation|Article IV-448(2): This Treaty may also be translated into any other languages as determined by Member States among those which, in accordance with their constitutional order, enjoy official status in all or part of their territory. A certified copy of such translations shall be provided by the Member States concerned to be deposited in the archives of the Council.}} Note that the Constitution has been signed by all Member States and is in the ratification process. Following its rejection in referendums in France and the Netherlands, as matters stand it will not come into force. ===Migrant languages=== Migrant languages are not given formal status or recognition in the EU or in the EU countries and they are not covered by EU language-teaching programmes. Only national and local authorities may provide classes to help immigrants learn the language of their adopted country.<ref>http://europa.eu.int/comm/publications/booklets/move/45/en.pdf</ref> ===National sign languages in the European Union=== Roughly one person in one thousand uses a national [[sign language]] as a first language, however there are many more that use one as their second language. An increasing number of countries have some form of [[recognition of sign languages|recognition of their national sign language]] such as Belgium with [[Flemish Sign Language]] (VGT) and Belgian-French Sign Language (LSFB), the United Kingdom with British Sign Language (BSL). In Northern Ireland, Irish Sign Language (ISL) and Northern Ireland Sign Language (NISL) are recognised as official languages. On [[1988-06-17]], the [[European Parliament]] unanimously approved a Resolution about national Sign Languages. This resolution asks all Member States for recognition of their national sign languages as official languages which would bring better linguistic rights and protection for sign language users especially the deaf users of sign language. ==Name of the European Union== ===Official languages=== This is a list of the name of the [[European Union]] in its 23 official languages: * {{lang|bg|Европейски съюз}} ({{lang|bg-Latn|''Evropeyski sayuz''}}; [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]) * {{lang|cs|''Evropská unie''}} ([[Czech language|Czech]]) * {{lang|da|''Den Europæiske Union''}} ([[Danish language|Danish]]) * {{lang|nl|''Europese Unie''}} ([[Dutch language|Dutch]]) * {{lang|en|European Union}} ([[English language|English]]) * {{lang|et|''Euroopa Liit''}} ([[Estonian language|Estonian]]) * {{lang|fi|''Euroopan unioni''}} ([[Finnish language|Finnish]]) * {{lang|fr|''Union européenne''}} ([[French language|French]]) * {{lang|de|''Europäische Union''}} ([[German language|German]]) * {{lang|el|Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση}} ({{lang|el-Latn|''Eurōpaïkí Énōsī''}}; [[Greek language|Greek]]) * {{lang|hu|''Európai Unió''}} ([[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]) * {{lang|ga|''An tAontas Eorpach''}} ([[Irish language|Irish]]) * {{lang|it|''Unione Europea''}} ([[Italian language|Italian]]) * {{lang|lv|''Eiropas Savienība''}} ([[Latvian language|Latvian]]) * {{lang|lt|''Europos Sąjunga''}} ([[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]]) * {{lang|mt|''Unjoni Ewropea''}} ([[Maltese language|Maltese]]) * {{lang|pl|''Unia Europejska''}} ([[Polish language|Polish]]) * {{lang|pt|''União Europeia''}} ([[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]) * {{lang|ro|''Uniunea Europeană''}} ([[Romanian language|Romanian]]) * {{lang|sk|''Európska únia''}} ([[Slovak language|Slovak]]) * {{lang|sl|''Evropska unija''}} (also {{lang|sl|''Evropska zveza''}}) ([[Slovene language|Slovene]]) * {{lang|es|''Unión Europea''}} ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]) * {{lang|sv|''Europeiska unionen''}} ([[Swedish language|Swedish]]) ===Other languages=== The draft [[European constitution]] has also been translated into the official languages of the three candidate countries. The names of the European Union in these languages are as follows: * {{lang|hr|''Europska unija''}} ([[Croatian language|Croatian]]) * {{lang|mk|Европска Унија}} ({{lang|mk|''Evropska Unija''}}; [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]]) * {{lang|tr|''Avrupa Birliği''}} ([[Turkish language|Turkish]]) The name in the languages of official prospective candidate countries are: * {{lang|sq|''Bashkimi Evropian''}} ([[Albanian language|Albanian]]) * {{lang|bs|''Evropska unija''}} / {{lang|bs|''Europska unija''}} ([[Bosnian language|Bosnian]]) * {{lang|bs|''Evropska unija''}} / {{lang|sr|Европска унија}} ([[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]] and [[Serbian language|Serbian]]) The name in some other languages of European Union states are: * {{lang|an |''Unión Europeya''}} ([[Aragonese language|Aragonese]]) * {{lang|ast|''Xunión Europea''}} ([[Asturian language|Asturian]]) * {{lang|eu |''Europar Batasuna''}} ([[Basque language|Basque]]) * {{lang|br |''Unvaniezh Europa''}} ([[Breton language|Breton]]) * {{lang|ca |''Unió Europea''}} ([[Catalan language|Catalan/Valencian]]) * {{lang|kw |''Unyans Europek''}} ([[Cornish language|Cornish]]) * {{lang|co |''Unione Europea''}} ([[Corsican language|Corsican]]) * {{lang|fur|''Union Europeane''}} ([[Friulian language|Friulian]]) * {{lang|gl |''Unión Europea''}} ([[Galician language|Galician]]) * {{lang|lmo-ins|''Union Europenga''}} ([[Piedmontese]]) * {{lang|lmo-ins|''Uniòn d'Eorôpa/Uniùn d'Euròpa''}} ([[Western Lombard]] in classic and modern orthography) * {{lang|csb|''Eùropejskô Ùnijô''}} ([[Kashubian language|Kashubian]]) * {{lang|liv|''Eirōpõd Īt''}} ([[Livonian language|Livonian]]) * {{lang|nds|''Europäisch Union''}} ([[Low German]]) * {{lang|lb |''Europäesch Unioun''}} ([[Luxembourgish language|Luxembourgish]]) * {{lang|eu |''Ounion Ouropeia''}} ([[Mirandese]]) * {{lang|nap |''Ünjôn Ürëpéj''}} ([[Neapolitan language|Neapolitan]]) * {{lang|oc |''Union Europèa''}} ([[Occitan]]) * {{lang|ru |Европейский Союз}} ({{lang|ru|''Yevropeyskiy Soyuz''}}; [[Russian language|Russian]]) * {{lang|se |''Eurohpa Uniovdna''}} ([[Sami languages|Sami]]) * {{lang|sc |''Unione Europea''}} ([[Sardinian language|Sardinian]]) * {{lang|gd |''Aonadh Eòrpach''}} ([[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]]) * {{lang|snc|''Uniuni Europea''}} ([[Sicilian language|Sicilian]]) * {{lang|vro|''Õuruupa Liit''}} ([[Võro language|Võro]]) * {{lang|wa |''Union Uropeyinne''}} ([[Walloon language|Walloon]]) * {{lang|cy |''Undeb Ewropeaidd''}} ([[Welsh language|Welsh]]) * {{lang|fy |''Jeropeeske Uny''}} ([[West Frisian language|West Frisian]]) * {{lang|yid|אײראָפּעיִשער פֿאַרבאַנד}} ({{lang|yid|''Ayropeisher Farband''}}; [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]) The name in some other languages is: * {{lang|ar|الاتحاد الأوروبي}} (''al-Ittiḥād al-'Ūrūbī'', [[Arabic language|Arabic]]) * {{lang|hy|Եվրոպական Միություն}} ({{lang|hy|''Evropakan Miutyun''}}; [[Armenian language|Armenian]]) * {{lang|zh-cn|欧洲联盟}} ([[Simplified Chinese character|Simplified]]) / {{lang|zh-tw|歐洲聯盟}} ([[Traditional Chinese character|Traditional]]) ([[Pinyin]]: ''Oūzhou Liánméng'', [[Chinese language|Chinese]]) * {{lang|eo|''Eŭropa Unio''}} ([[Esperanto]]) * {{lang|fo|''Evropeiska samveldið''}} ([[Faroese language|Faroese]]) * {{lang|tl|''Kaisahang Yuropeo''}} ([[Tagalog language|Filipino]]) * {{lang|ti|''Unione Europea''}} ([[Tigrigna language|Tigrigna]]) * {{lang|he|האיחוד האירופי}} ({{Unicode|''Ha-ʹiẖud Ha-ʹeropi''}}) ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]) * {{lang|kn|ಯೂರೋಪು ಒಕ್ಕೂಟ}} ({{Unicode|''Europe Okkoota''}}) ([[Kannada language|Kannada]]) * {{lang|hi|यूरोपीय संघ}} ({{Unicode|''Yūropīya Saṅgh''}}; [[Hindi]]) * {{lang|is|''Evrópusambandið''}} ([[Icelandic language|Icelandic]]) * {{lang|id|''Uni Eropa''}} ([[Indonesian language|Indonesian]]) * {{lang|ia|''Union Europee''}} ([[Interlingua]]) * {{lang|ja|欧州連合}} (''Ōshū Rengō'') or {{lang|ja|ヨーロッパ連合}} (''Yōroppa Rengō'') ([[Japanese language|Japanese]]) * {{lang|ka|ევროპის კავშირი}} (''evrop'is k'avširi'') ([[Georgian language|Georgian]]) * {{lang|ko|유럽연합}} / {{lang|ko|유럽聯合}} (Yureop Yeonhap) ([[Korean language|Korean]]) * {{lang|la|''Unio Europaea''}} ([[Latin]]) * {{lang|ms|''Kesatuan Eropah''}} ([[Malay language|Malay]]) * {{lang|no|''Den europeiske union''}} ([[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] [[Bokmål]]) * {{lang|no|''Den europeiske unionen''}} ([[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] [[Nynorsk]]) * {{lang|th|สหภาพยุโรป}} ({{Unicode|''Sahaphaap Yurohp''}}) ([[Thai language|Thai]]) * {{lang|uk|Європейський Союз}} ({{lang|uk|''Jevropejśkyj Sojuz''}}; [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]) * {{lang|be|Еўрапейскі Саюз}} ({{lang|be|''Jeŭrapiejski Sajuz''}}; [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]]) * {{lang|ur|یورپی یونین}} (''{{Unicode|Yūrapī Yūniyan}}'') ([[Urdu language|Urdu]]) * {{lang|uz|Yevropa Ittifoqi}} ([[Uzbek language|Uzbek]]) * {{lang|ta|ஐரோப்பிய ஒன்றியம்}} (''Airoppiya Onriyum'') ([[Tamil language|Tamil]]) ==Language skills of citizens== {{update}} <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:European Year of Languages 2001 logo.jpg|thumb|300px|[[European Year of Languages 2001]] and [[European Day of Languages]] logo.]] --> The following tables are based on "Special [[Eurobarometer]] 243" of the European Commission with the title "Europeans and their Languages" ([http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_sum_en.pdf summary] [http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf full text]), published on February 2006 with research carried out in November and December 2005. The survey was published before the 2007 [[Enlargement of the European Union]], when Bulgaria and Romania acceded. This is a [[poll]], not a [[census]]. 28,694 citizens with a minimum age of 15 were asked in the 25 member-states as well as in the future member-states (Bulgaria, Romania) and the candidate countries (Croatia, Turkey) at the time of the survey. Only citizens, not immigrants, were asked. The first table shows what proportion of citizens said that they could have a conversation in each language as their [[mother tongue]] and as a [[second language]] or [[foreign language]] (only the languages with at least 2% of the speakers are listed): {{Languages of the European Union}} At 18% of the total number of speakers, German is the most widely spoken mother tongue, while English is the most widely spoken language at 51%. 100% of Hungarians, 100% of Portuguese, and 99.5% of Greeks speak their state language as their mother tongue. The knowledge of foreign languages varies considerably in the specific countries, as the table below shows. The five most used, and spoken second or foreign languages in the EU are [[English language|English]], [[German language|German]], [[French language|French]], [[Russian language|Russian]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]] followed by [[Italian language|Italian]]. The cases coloured in blue means that the language is one/the official language of the country and dark blue means it is the main language spoken in the country. [[Image:Knowledge English EU map.png|thumb|200px|Knowledge of English]] [[Image:Knowledge German EU map.png|thumb|200px|Knowledge of German]] [[Image:Knowledge French EU map.png|thumb|200px|Knowledge of French]] [[Image:Knowledge of Spanish EU map.svg|thumb|200px|Knowledge of Spanish]] [[Image:Knowledge of Italian EU map.svg|thumb|200px|Knowledge of Italian]] [[Image:Knowledge of Russian EU map.svg|thumb|200px|Knowledge of Russian]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Country <br> (EU27) ! English <br>as a language<br> other than <br>mother tongue ! German <br>as a language<br> other than <br>mother tongue ! French <br>as a language<br> other than <br>mother tongue ! Spanish <br>as a language<br> other than <br>mother tongue ! Italian <br>as a language<br> other than <br>mother tongue ! Russian <br>as a language<br> other than <br>mother tongue |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Austria}} || 58% || bgcolor="#6680CC" | 4% || 10% || 4% || 8% || 2% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Belgium}} || 59% || bgcolor="#B2C6FF" | 27% || bgcolor="#B2C6FF" | 48% || 6% || 3% || 0% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Bulgaria}} || 23% || 12% || 9% || 2% || 1% || 35% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Cyprus}} || 76% || 5% || 12% || 2% || 4% || 2% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Czech Republic}} || 24% || 28% || 2% || 0% || 1% || 20% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Denmark}} || 86% || 58% || 12% || 5% || 1% || 1% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Estonia}} || 46% || 22% || 1% || 0% || 0% || 66% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Finland}} || 63% || 18% || 3% || 2% || 1% || 2% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|France}} || 36% || 8% || bgcolor="#6680CC" | 6% || 13% || 5% || 0% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Germany}} || 56% || bgcolor="#6680CC" | 9% || 15% || 4% || 3% || 7% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Greece}} || 48% || 9% || 8% || 0% || 4% || 3% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Hungary}} || 23% || 25% || 2% || 1% || 2% || 8% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Republic of Ireland|name=Ireland}} || bgcolor="#6680CC" | 5% || 7% || 20% || 4% || 1% || 1% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Italy}} || 29% || 5% || 14% || 4% || bgcolor="#6680CC" | 1% || 0% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Latvia}} || 32% || 14% || 2% || 1% || 0% || 70% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Lithuania}} || 39% || 19% || 1% || 0% || 0% || 80% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Luxembourg}} || 60% || bgcolor="#B2C6FF" | 88% || bgcolor="#B2C6FF" | 90% || 1% || 5% || 0% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Malta}} || bgcolor="#B2C6FF" | 88% || 3% || 17% || 3% || 66% || 0% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Netherlands}} || 87% || 70% || 29% || 5% || 1% || 0% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Poland}} || 29% || 20% || 3% || 1% || 1% || 26% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Portugal}} || 32% || 3% || 24% || 9% || 1% || 0% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Romania}} || 29% || 6% || 24% || 3% || 4% || 4% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Slovakia}} || 32% || 32% || 2% || 1% || 1% || 29% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Slovenia}} || 57% || 50% || 4% || 2% || 15% || 2% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Spain}} || 27% || 2% || 12% || bgcolor="#6680CC" | 10% || 2% || 1% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Sweden}} || 89% || 30% || 11% || 6% || 2% || 1% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|United Kingdom}} || bgcolor="#6680CC" | 7% || 9% || 23% || 8% || 2% || 1% |- | colspan=7 | '''''Candidate countries:''''' |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Croatia}} || 49% || 34% || 4% || 2% || 14% || 4% |- |style="text-align: left;"| {{flag|Turkey}} || 17% || 4% || 1% || 0% || 0% || 1% |} <small>Source: [http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf]</small> 56% of citizens in the EU Member States are able to hold a conversation in one language apart from their mother tongue. This is 9 points more than was perceived in 2001 among the 15 Member States at the time [http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/eb/eb55/eb55_en.pdf]. 28% of the respondents state that they speak two foreign languages well enough to have a conversation. Still, almost half of the respondents, 44%, admit not knowing any other language than their mother tongue. Approximately 1 in 5 Europeans can be described as an active language learner, i.e. someone who has recently improved his/her language skills or intends to do so over the following 12 months. English remains the most widely spoken foreign language throughout Europe. 38% of EU citizens state that they have sufficient skills in English to have a conversation (excluding the citizens of the United Kingdom and Ireland, the two English-speaking countries). 14% of Europeans indicate that they know either French or German along with their mother tongue. French is most commonly studied and used in Southern Europe, especially in Mediterranean countries, in Germany, Romania, the UK and Ireland while German is commonly studied and used in the Benelux countries, in Scandinavia and in the newer EU member states. Spanish is most commonly studied in parts of France, Italy, Luxembourg and Portugal. In 19 out of 29 countries polled, English is the most widely known language apart from the mother tongue, this being particularly the case in Sweden (89%), Malta (an ex-British colony that ia also part of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] as well) (88%), the Netherlands (87%), and Denmark (86%), while German and French is so in three countries. Moreover, the citizens of the EU think they speak English at a better level than any other second or foreign language. 77% of EU citizens believe that children should learn English and that it's considered the number one language to learn in all countries where the research conducted but the United Kingdom, Ireland and Luxembourg. All in all, English either as a mother tongue or as a second/foreign language is spoken by 51% of EU citizens, followed by German with 32% and French with 28% of those asked. With the enlargement of the European Union, the balance between French and German is slowly changing. Clearly more citizens in the new Member States master German (23% compared with 12% in the EU15) while their skills in French and Spanish are scarce (3% and 1% respectively compared with 16% and 7% among the EU15 group). A notable exception is Romania, where 24% of the population speaks French as a foreign language compared to 6% who speaks German as a foreign language (also 4% of the population speaks Italian as a foreign language, while 3% of the population speaks Spanish as a foreign language). It is worth pointing out that language skills are unevenly distributed both over the geographical area of Europe and over sociodemographic groups. Reasonably good language competences are perceived in relatively small Member States with several state languages, lesser used native languages or "language exchange” with neighbouring countries. This is the case for example in Luxembourg where 92% speak at least two languages. Those who live in Southern European countries or countries where one of the major European languages is a state language appear to have moderate language skills. Only 5% of Turkish, 13% of Irish, 16% of Italians, 17% of Spanish and 18% from the UK speak at least two languages apart from their mother tongue. A "multilingual" European is likely to be young, well-educated or still studying, born in a country other than the country of residence, who uses foreign languages for professional reasons and is motivated to learn. Consequently, it seems that a large part of European society is not enjoying the advantages of multilingualism. Free language lessons (26%), flexible language courses that suit one’s schedule (18%) and opportunities to learn languages in a country where it is spoken natively (17%) are considered to be the main incentives encouraging language learning. Group lessons with a teacher (20%), language lessons at school (18%), “one-to-one” lessons with a teacher and long or frequent visits to a country where the language is spoken are considered to be the most suitable ways to learn languages. ===Regional and minority languages=== <!--This sections follows Euromosaic study, conducted for the European Commission. Languages from this study not yet completely incorporated. Please do not add or omit languages or change their name arbitrarily. This study does not yet cover Bulgaria and Romania, the two latest members states. --Michkalas 20:42, 27 March 2007 (UTC) --> According to the [http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/languages/langmin/euromosaic/index_en.html Euromosaic study], a number of [[regional language|regional]] or [[minority language]]s are spoken within the EU that do not have official recognition at EU level. Some of them may have some official status within the member state and count many more speakers than some of the lesser-used official languages. The official languages of EU are in '''bold'''. These include (data available for EU25): {{columns |width=24% |gap=5px |col1 = *[[Albanian language|Albanian]] ([[Greece]] as [[Arvanitika]], [[Italy]] as [[Arbëresh language|Arbëresh]]) *[[Alsatian language|Alsatian]] ([[France]]) *[[Arabic language|Arabic]] ([[Cyprus]], [[Belgium]], [[France]], [[Malta]], [[United Kingdom]]) *[[Aragonese language|Aragonese]] ([[Spain]]) *[[Armenian language|Armenian]] ([[Bulgaria]], [[Cyprus]], [[Hungary]], [[Poland]]) *[[Aromanian language|Aromanian]] ([[Bulgaria]], [[Greece]] as [[Vlach language|Vlach]], [[Romania]]) *[[Asturian language|Asturian]] ([[Spain]]) *[[Basque language|Basque]] ([[France]], [[Spain]]) *[[Berber language|Berber]] ([[Spain]]) *[[Belarusian language|Belarusian]] ([[Estonia]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Poland]]) *[[Bosnian language|Bosnian]] ([[Slovenia]]) *[[Breton language|Breton]] ([[France]], [[United Kingdom]]) *'''[[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]''' ([[Greece]] as [[Pomaks|Pomak]], [[Hungary]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Slovakia]], [[Romania]] as [[Banat Bulgarians|Banat Bulgarian]]) *[[Catalan language|Catalan]] ([[France]], [[Italy]], [[Spain]]) *[[Chinese language]] ([[France]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Spain]], [[Italy]], [[Romania]]) *[[Cornish language|Cornish]] ([[United Kingdom]]) |col2 = *[[Corsican language|Corsican]] ([[France]]) *[[Croatian language|Croatian]] ([[Austria]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Hungary]], [[Italy]], [[Slovakia]], [[Slovenia]]) *'''[[Czech language|Czech]]''' ([[Austria]], [[Poland]], [[Slovakia]]) *'''[[Danish language|Danish]]''' ([[Germany]]) *'''[[Dutch language|Dutch]]''' ([[France]] as [[West Flemish|Flemish]]) *'''[[Finnish language|Finnish]]''' ([[Estonia]], [[Sweden]]) *[[Franco-Provençal language|Franco-Provençal]] ([[Italy]]) *[[Frisian languages|Frisian]] ([[Germany]], [[Netherlands]]) *[[Friulian language|Friulian]] ([[Italy]]) *[[Galician language|Galician]] ([[Spain]]) *'''[[German language|German]]''' ([[Belgium]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Denmark]], [[France]], [[Estonia]], [[Italy]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Hungary]], [[Poland]], [[Romania]], [[Slovenia]], [[Slovakia]]) *'''[[Greek language|Greek]]''' ([[Czech Republic]], [[Italy]] as [[Griko]], [[Hungary]], [[Bulgaria]], [[France]] as [[Aleria|Greek Corsican]]) *'''[[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]''' ([[Austria]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Romania]], [[Slovakia]], [[Slovenia]]) *'''[[Irish language|Irish]]''' ([[United Kingdom]]) *'''[[Italian language|Italian]]''' ([[Slovenia]], [[Croatia]]) *[[Ladin language|Ladin]] ([[Italy]]) |col3 = *[[Latgalian language|Latgalian]] ([[Latvia]]) *[[Livonian language|Livonian]] ([[Latvia]]) *'''[[Latvian language|Latvian]]''' ([[Estonia]]) *'''[[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]]''' ([[Estonia]], [[Latvia]], [[Poland]]) *[[Luxembourgish language|Luxembourgish]] ([[Luxembourg]]) *[[Karaim language|Karaim]] ([[Lithuania]], [[Poland]]) *[[Kashubian language|Kashubian]] ([[Poland]]) *[[Macedonian language|Macedonian]] ([[Bulgaria]], [[Greece]]) *'''[[Maltese language|Maltese]]''' ([[Italy]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Gibraltar]]) *[[Manx language|Manx]] ([[United Kingdom]]) *[[Mirandese language|Mirandese]] ([[Portugal]]) *[[Occitan language|Occitan]] ([[France]], [[Italy]], [[Spain]]) *'''[[Polish language|Polish]]''' ([[Czech Republic]], [[Estonia]], [[Hungary]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Slovakia]]) *'''[[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]''' ([[Spain]]) *[[Romani language|Romani]] ([[Cyprus]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Estonia]], [[Hungary]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Poland]], [[Slovakia]], [[Slovenia]]) *'''[[Romanian language|Romanian]]''' ([[Hungary]], [[Bulgaria]]) *[[Russian language|Russian]] ([[Bulgaria]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Cyprus]], [[Estonia]], [[Finland]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Greece]], [[Hungary]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Poland]], [[Romania]], [[Slovakia]], [[United Kingdom]]) |col4 = *[[Rusyn language|Rusyn]] ([[Czech Republic]], [[Hungary]], [[Poland]], [[Slovakia]]) *[[Sami language|Sami]] ([[Finland]], [[Sweden]]) *[[Samogitian language|Samogitian]] ([[Lithuania]]) *[[Sardinian language|Sardinian]] ([[Italy]]) *[[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]] ([[United Kingdom]]) *[[Serbian language|Serbian]] ([[Hungary]], [[Romania]], [[Slovenia]]) *'''[[Slovak language|Slovak]]''' ([[Austria]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Hungary]], [[Poland]]) *'''[[Slovene language|Slovene]]''' ([[Austria]], [[Italy]], [[Hungary]]) *[[Sorbian languages|Sorbian]] ([[Germany]]) *'''[[Swedish language|Swedish]]''' ([[Estonia]], [[Finland]] as {{nowrap|[[Finland Swedish]]}}) *[[Tatar language|Tatar]] ([[Estonia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Poland]]) *[[Turkish language|Turkish]] ([[Greece]], [[Bulgaria]]) *[[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] ([[Czech Republic]], [[Estonia]], [[Hungary]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Poland]], [[Romania]], [[Slovakia]]) *[[Welsh language|Welsh]] ([[United Kingdom]]) *[[Yiddish language|Yiddish]] ([[Estonia]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Poland]], [[Romania]]) }} In this list, [[constructed language]]s or what member states deem as mere "[[dialect]]s" of an official language of member states are not included. It should be noted that many of these alleged "dialects" are widely viewed by linguists as separate languages, however. These include Scots (the Germanic language descended from Anglo-Saxon, not the Celtic language known as Scots Gaelic) and several Romance languages spoken in Italy such as Lombard, Veneto, Neapolitan, and Sicilian. ====Russian==== Though not an official language of the European Union, [[Russian language|Russian]] is widely spoken in some of the newer member states of the Union that were formerly in the [[Eastern bloc]]. Russian is the native language of about 1.3 million Slavs residing in [[Latvia]], [[Estonia]], and [[Lithuania]], as well as a sizeable community in [[Germany]]. Russian is also understood by many ethnic Latvians, Estonians and Lithuanians, since, as official language of the [[Soviet Union]], it was a compulsory subject in these countries during the [[Soviet era]]. Although rarely a native language, Russian is widely understood by many in [[Bulgaria]], [[Poland]], the [[Czech Republic]], [[Slovakia]], some in [[Hungary]], [[Romania]] and other countries. It is the 8th most spoken language in the EU. About 7% of all EU citizens speak or understand Russian to some extent. ===Migrant languages=== A wide variety of languages from other parts of the world are spoken by [[immigrant]] communities in EU countries. [[Turkish language|Turkish]] is spoken as a first language by an estimated 2% of the population in [[Belgium]] and the western part of [[Germany]] and by 1% in [[The Netherlands]]. Other widely-used migrant languages include [[Maghreb Arabic]] (and others) (mainly in [[France]], [[Belgium]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Cyprus]] and [[Malta]]), [[Urdu]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]] and [[Hindi]] spoken by immigrants from the [[Indian sub-continent]] in the [[United Kingdom]], while [[Balkan languages]] are spoken in many parts of the EU by migrants and [[refugee]]s who have left the region as a result of the [[Yugoslav wars|recent wars]] and unrest there. There are large [[Overseas Chinese|Chinese]] communities in [[Chinese French|France]], [[British Chinese|UK]], [[Chinese people in Spain|Spain]], [[Chinese people in Italy|Italy]], [[Chinese of Romania|Romania]] and other countries. Some countries have [[Chinatowns]]. Old and recent Chinese migrants speak various Chinese dialects. However, [[Mandarin (linguistics)|Mandarin]] is becoming increasingly more prevalent due to the opening up of the PRC and is also, at least, one of the Chinese language varieties spoken by Chinese immigrants. Many immigrant communities in the EU have been in place for several generations now and their members are [[bilingual]], at ease both in the local language and in that of their community. [http://europa.eu.int/comm/publications/booklets/move/45/en.pdf] ==Linguistic classification of the EU's official languages== The majority of the official languages of the European Union belong to the [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] [[language family]], the three dominant subfamilies being the [[Germanic languages|Germanic]], [[Romance languages|Romance]] and [[Slavic languages]]. Germanic languages are widely spoken in central and northern areas of the EU and include Danish, Dutch, English, German, and Swedish. Romance languages are spoken in western and southern regions and include French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Spanish. The Slavic languages are to be found in the eastern regions and include Bulgarian, Czech, Polish, Slovak, and Slovene. The [[Baltic languages]] Latvian and Lithuanian, the [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] language Irish, and [[Greek language|Greek]] are also of Indo-European origin. Outside the Indo-European family, Estonian, Finnish, and Hungarian are [[Finno-Ugric languages]] while Maltese is the only [[Semitic languages|Semitic language]] with official status in the EU. All official EU languages are written with the [[Latin alphabet]], except [[Greek language|Greek]] (written with the [[Greek alphabet]]) and [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]] (written in the [[Cyrillic alphabet]]). ==Legal basis== The European Union ability for legislative acts and other initiatives on language policy is based legally in the provisions in the [[Treaties of the European Union]]. In the EU, [[language policy]] is the responsibility of member states and European Union does not have a "common language policy". Based on the "principle of [[subsidiarity]]", European Union institutions play a supporting role in this field, promoting cooperation between the member states and promoting the European dimension in the member states language policies, particularly through the teaching and dissemination of the languages of the member states (Article 149.2).<ref>[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/treaties/dat/12002E/htm/C_2002325EN.003301.html#anArt150 Consolidated version of the Treaty establishing the European Community, Articles 149 to 150], ''Official Journal C 321E of 29 December 2006''. Retrieved on [[February 1]], [[2007]].</ref><ref>[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/facts/4_16_3_en.htm European Parliament Fact Sheets: 4.16.3. Language policy], ''European Parliament website''. Retrieved on [[February 3]], [[2007]].</ref> The rules governing the languages of the institutions of the Community shall, without prejudice to the provisions contained in the Statute of the Court of Justice, be determined by the Council, acting unanimously (Article 290). All languages, in which was originally drawn up or was translated due to enlargement, are legally equally authentic. Every citizen of the Union may write to any of the EU institutions or bodies in one of the these languages and have an answer in the same language (Article 314). In the [[Charter of Fundamental Rights]], a legally non-binding text, the EU declares that it respects linguistic diversity (Article 22) and prohibits discrimination on grounds of language (Article 21). Respect for linguistic diversity is a fundamental value of the European Union, in the same way as respect for the person, openness towards other cultures, tolerance and acceptance of other people. ==EU initiatives for language learning and linguistic diversity== [[Image:EP Translation booths.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Interpretation booths in the debating chamber of the [[European Parliament]] ([[Brussels]]).]] Beginning with the ''[[Lingua programme]]'' in [[1990]], the European Union invests more than €30 million a year (out of a €120 billion [[European Union Budget|EU budget]]) promoting language learning through the ''[[Socrates programme|Socrates]]'' and ''[[Leonardo da Vinci programme|Leonardo da Vinci]]'' programmes in: bursaries to enable language teachers to be trained abroad, placing foreign language assistants in schools, funding class exchanges to motivate pupils to learn languages, creating new language courses on CDs and the Internet and projects that raise awareness of the benefits of language learning. Through strategic studies, the Commission promotes debate, innovation and the exchange of good practice. In addition, the mainstream actions of Community programmes which encourage mobility and transnational partnerships motivate participants to learn languages. [[Youth exchange]]s, [[town twinning]] projects and the [[European Voluntary Service]] also promote multilingualism. Since 1997, the [[Culture 2000|Culture 2000 programme]] has financed the translation of around 2,000 literary works from and into European languages. The new programmes proposed for implementation for the [[financial perspective]] 2007-2013 ([[Culture 2007]], [[Youth in Action]] and [[EU Integrated programme|Lifelong Learning]]) will continue and develop this kind of support. In addition, the EU provides the main financial support to the [[European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages]] (a non-governmental organisation which represents the interests of the over 40 million citizens who belong to a regional and minority language community), and for the [[Mercator network|Mercator]] networks of universities active in research on lesser-used languages in Europe. Following a request from the European Parliament, the Commission in 2004 launched a feasibility study on the possible creation of a new [[Agencies of the European Union|EU agency]], "European Agency for Language Learning and Linguistic Diversity". The study concludes that there are unmet needs in this field, and proposes two options: creating an agency or setting up a European network of "Language Diversity Centres". The Commission believes that a network would be the most appropriate next step and, where possible, should build on existing structures; it will examine the possibility of financing it on a multi-annual basis through the proposed Lifelong Learning programme. Another interesting step would be to translate important public websites, such as the one of the European Central Bank, or Frontex web site also, in at least one other language than English. Although not an EU treaty, some EU member states have ratified the [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages]]. Its ratification is also a prerequisite for new member-states joining the Union. To encourage language learning, the EU supported the [[Council of Europe]] initiatives for [[European Year of Languages 2001]] and the annual celebration of [[European Day of Languages]] on [[September 26]]. To encourage the member states to cooperate and to disseminate best practice the Commission has issued a Communication on [[July 24]], [[2003]], on [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=en&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2003&nu_doc=449 Promoting Language Learning and Linguistic Diversity: an Action Plan 2004 - 2006] ([http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/cha/c11068.htm summary]) and a Communication on [[November 22]], [[2005]], on [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=en&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2005&nu_doc=596 A New Framework Strategy for Multilingualism] ([http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/cha/c11084.htm summary]). From [[November 22]] [[2004]], the [[European Commissioner for Education and Culture]] portfolio included an explicit reference to languages and became [[European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism]] with [[Ján Figeľ]] at the post. From [[January 1]], [[2007]], the European Commission has a special portfolio on languages, [[European Commissioner for Multilingualism]]. The post is currently held by [[Leonard Orban]]. EU devotes a specialised subsite of its "Europa" portal to languages, the [http://europa.eu/languages/en/home EUROPA Languages portal]. ==See also== * [[European languages]] * [[European Commissioner for Multilingualism]]{{ndash}} [[Leonard Orban]] * [[Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union]] (CDT) - [[Inter-Active Terminology for Europe]] (IATE) * [[European Day of Languages]]{{ndash}} [[26 September]] * [[Linguistic issues concerning the euro]] * [[List of names of the official languages of the European Union in the official languages]] * [[Euro-English]] * [[English-speaking Europe]] ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==Further reading== * Michele Gazzola (2006) "[http://www.springerlink.com/content/47253614164m4371 Managing Multilingualism in the European Union: Language Policy Evaluation for the European Parliament]", ''Language Policy'', vol. 5, n. 4, p. 393-417. * Hogan-Brun, Gabrielle and Stefan Wolff. 2003. Minority Languages in Europe: Frameworks, Status, Prospects. Palgrave. ISBN 1403903964 * Nic Craith, Máiréad. 2005. ''Europe and the Politics of Language: Citizens, Migrants and Outsiders''. Palgrave. ISBN 1403918333 * Richard L. Creech, "Law and Language in the European Union: The Paradox of a Babel 'United in Diversity'" (Europa Law Publishing: Groningen, 2005) ISBN 90-76871-43-4 * Shetter, William Z., [http://home.bluemarble.net/~langmin/miniatures/eulangs.htm EU Language Year 2001: Celebrating diversity but with a hangover], ''Language Miniature'' No 63. * Shetter, William Z., [http://home.bluemarble.net/~langmin/miniatures/Qvalue.htm Harmony or Cacophony: The Global Language System], ''Language Miniature'' No 96. ==External links== ===Official EU webpages=== * [http://europa.eu/languages/en/home Europa: Languages and Europe] - The European Union portal on languages * [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/facts/4_16_3_en.htm European Parliament Fact Sheets: 4.16.3. Language policy] * [http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/languages_en.html European Commission > Education and Training > Policy Areas > Languages] * [http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/languages_en.html EUROPA > The EU at a glance > The European countries > Languages in the EU] - Hear examples of the official EU languages * [http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/orban/index_en.htm European Commissioner for Multilingualism - Leonard Orban] * [http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/index_en.html European Commission Directorate-General for Education and Culture (DG EAC)] * [http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/translation/index_en.htm European Commission Directorate-General for Translation (DGT)] * [http://scic.cec.eu.int/europa/display.jsp?id=j_8 European Commission Directorate-General for Interpretation (former SCIC)] * [http://publications.europa.eu/index_en.htm European Union Publications Office] * [http://publications.europa.eu/code/en/en-370200.htm European Union interinstitutional style guide] * [http://www.europa.eu/comm/dgs/translation/bookshelf/brochure_en.pdf The process of creating documents in this multilingual environment (PDF)] ===News=== * [http://www.euractiv.com/en/culture EurActiv.com - Languages and Culture] - news site * [http://www.eurolang.net Eurolang] news agency covering lesser-used languages in the EU. ===Other=== * [http://www.eurfedling.org The European Federation of National Institutions for Language (EFNIL)] * [http://www.eblul.org The European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages (EBLUL)] - a EU funded NGO on lesser-used languages in the EU. * [http://www.mercator-central.org/ Mercator] - networks of universities active in research on lesser-used languages in Europe * [http://www.adum.info ADUM] - information on minority languages EU programmes. * [http://web.quipo.it/minola/ MinoLa - Minority Languages in the European Union] {{Template group |list = {{Official EU languages}} {{European Union topics}} }} <!--Categories--> [[Category:Language policy of the European Union| ]] [[Category:European Union-related lists]] <!--Other languages--> [[zh-min-nan:Europa Liân-bêng ê koaⁿ-hong gí-giân]] [[br:Yezhoù Unaniezh Europa]] [[bg:Официални езици на Европейския съюз]] [[ca:Llengües de la Unió Europea]] [[cy:Ieithoedd yr Undeb Ewropeaidd]] [[da:EU's officielle sprog]] [[de:Amtssprachen der Europäischen Union]] [[el:Γλώσσες της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης]] [[es:Lenguas de la Unión Europea]] [[fr:Langues dans l'Union européenne]] [[fur:Lenghis de Union Europeane]] [[gl:Linguas oficiais da Unión Europea]] [[ko:유럽 연합의 언어]] [[id:Bahasa Resmi Uni Eropa]] [[is:Tungumál í Evrópusambandinu]] [[it:Lingue dell'Unione Europea]] [[ka:ევროკავშირის ენები]] [[csb:Jãzëczi Eùropejsczi Ùniji]] [[ku:Zimanên fermî yên Yekîtiya Ewropayê]] [[lv:Eiropas Savienības valodas]] [[lt:Europos Sąjungos oficialios kalbos]] [[hu:Az Európai Unió hivatalos nyelvei]] [[mk:Јазици на Европската Унија]] [[nl:Talen van de Europese Unie]] [[ja:欧州連合の言語]] [[no:EUs offisielle språk]] [[pl:Języki w Unii Europejskiej]] [[pt:Línguas da União Européia]] [[ro:Limbile Uniunii Europene]] [[ru:Языки Евросоюза]] [[sr:Jезици Европске уније]] [[sv:EU-språk]] [[tr:Avrupa Birliği dilleri]] [[zh:歐盟官方語言名稱列表]]