“All English!

Brexit and its effects have raised many questions, including that it is certainly less publicized, but oh very sensitive, Continuation of the dominance of the English language in discussions, Communication, information and working methods of European companies. This hegemony does not conform to the legal framework of the European Union (EU), with which we have the right to seek respect. Therefore, in Article 3, the EU Agreement “ The Union values ​​the richness of its cultural and linguistic diversity and ensures the preservation and promotion of Europe’s cultural heritage. “Similarly, Article 18 of the Convention on the EU’s Act proposes the principle of” Prohibition “. No discrimination on national basis From that arises the obligation to respect multilingualism. We will not refer to other structural texts, such as the Fundamental Rights Charter or specific to each institution, which only integrate the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Union and testify to its richness.

read more: After Brexit, an MP wants to make French the only working language of the European Union

Still! Common usage often violates European law in many respects. At first in the companies themselves, many arrangements turn out to be implemented carelessly. Apart from the EU Court, it also uses the languages ​​of lawyers to guarantee the rights of citizens, and the European Parliament, which is made up of representatives from 27 member states, the Council and the Commission, along with its Directorate General and its agencies, has this strong inclination towards English, even annoying tendencies. With regard to EU information, serious shortcomings were quickly highlighted. Therefore, it was noted that blatant discrimination against languages ​​other than English is common on corporate websites and in calls for tenders and public consultation. It is unfortunate to see that not only the information provided to the media but also the communications to the national parliaments are mainly in favor of English.

What is the democratic impetus for Europe?

As the conference on the future of Europe unfolds, there are many elements that make us question our own pace of democracy. We have already mentioned. We want to do it again. Europe is full of its diversity, and we have not measured the importance of this wealth enough, at the risk of it being affected! Brexit, Reinforced by the official language choices of Malta and Ireland, may have given the impression that English would disappear from the list of official languages ​​of the European Union. This is not the case! Let us distance ourselves from using as a powder keg a language that is part of the history of the Union and, like many others, has worked for its expansion and its development. Make no mistake about our approach: the idea we defend is to rediscover the meaning of the single European project that is part of the diversity of languages ​​and cultures, the diversity that is abused by the choice of facility. In a recommendation adopted in November 2019, the European Region of the APF (Parliament of La Francophonie) expressed the desire: ” The heads of state and government of the EU member states must reaffirm their firm desire to restructure multilingualism and the use of languages ​​in European institutions. ⁇

read more: “What if Brexit saved the EU?”

We were talking about the future conference in Europe. This broad-based citizen participation, perhaps Europe’s largest democracy to date, is being launched across the Union. The conference is determined to be inclusive and involve every citizen of the Union in the discussion through multilingualism. Participation is based on an inclusive approach, in which each person questions their position and their behavior in the group, in order to carry out two harmonious responsibilities: to express themselves and to allow others to do so. By allowing everyone access to information, only multilingualism makes this real conversation possible. In this context, translation is an essential tool that guarantees the opportunity for a citizen to participate in building a common future without being forced to give up his own language, the direction of his own culture. Allowing everyone to access documents and information in their own language is a democratic requirement that costs only two euros per person per year.

The first elements of the conference’s response to the future of Europe are sufficient evidence of this. In addition to the idea of ​​restructuring European institutions or federalizing them, the various recommendations of these proposals should increase citizen participation, while at the same time demanding greater transparency and institutional closeness. How can we achieve these democratic goals without the contribution of multilingualism? APF Europe Region wants to accept this challenge and invites everyone to do so. For this reason, the French will continue its struggle to regain its legal status in European institutions. It also wants to preserve this formal place of the French language and other languages ​​of the European Union. ” The path goes up again », Seneca wrote, but the future is ahead of us!

Signed by:

Florin-Alexandru ALEXE, member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies

Dora Pogoianis, Hellenic Member of Parliament

Albert Bertin, Chairman of the Asta Valley Council

Matthieu DAELE, Member of Parliament for the Wallonia-Brussels Federation

Rudy Demode, parliamentary speaker of the Wallonia-Brussels Alliance

Mars DI BARTOLOMEO, Member of the Chamber of Representatives of Luxembourg

Christophe-André FRASSA, Member of the French Senate

Bruno FUCHS, Member of the French National Assembly

Gusti Cross, Member of the Chamber of Representatives of Luxembourg

Pim KNAFF, Member of the Chamber of Representatives of Luxembourg

Jacques KRABAL, Member of the French National Assembly

Albert LANIÈCE, Member of the Italian Senate

Josée LORSHE, Member of the Chamber of Representatives of Luxembourg

Jean-Charles Luperto, Member of Parliament for Wallonia and Member of Parliament for the Federation of Wallonia-Brussels

Georgi Mikhailov, Member of Parliament for Bulgaria

Aleksander POCIEJ, Member of the Polish Senate

Franுவாois Skepmans, Member of Parliament for Brussels-Capital Region and Member of Parliament for the Wallonia-Brussels Federation

Jean-Paul WAHL, Member of the Belgian Senate, Deputy Speaker of the Wallonia Parliament and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation Parliament.