The United Kingdom government have set out their position on promoting the use of Welsh as a working language in the European Union. They mwere responding to a query from the General Secretary of the Celtic mLeague (see below):

"Dear Mr Tal-e-bot,

Thank you for your e-mail dated 9 June 2008 to the Secretary of State for Wales, which sought the UK Government's position on the Welsh language becoming an official EU language. I have been asked to reply.

In June 2005, Foreign Ministers from the EU's Member States agreed in principle the limited use at EU level of languages recognised by Member States other than the official working languages. Spain was mthe first Member State to take advantage of these provisions.

Following a request from Welsh Assembly Government, the UK Government began discussions with the EU's Council of Ministers regarding the limited use of UK regional languages - including Welsh - at EU level with a view to establishing a workable and efficient system.

The UK Government is currently in discussions with the EU's Council mof Ministers to permit the use of Welsh : " by UK Representatives in the Council of Ministers and the Committee of the Regions (one-way interpretation only) ; " in written correspondence with the Council of Ministers, European Parliament, European Commission, Council of the Regions, and EU Ombudsman (including by members of the public) ; " for the deposit of important EU legislation in the Council of Ministers' archives.

If agreed, this would broadly be in line with the arrangements in place for the Basque, Catalan and Galician languages. However Welsh would not be recognised as an official EU language. All costs would fall to the Welsh Assembly Government as part of its commitment to promote the Welsh language.

If agreed, these new arrangements would underline the UK Government's commitment to cultural and linguistic diversity in the UK and the EU, and better reflect the present UK devolution settlement.

I hope that this is of some assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Rob Brandon"

Related article on Celtic languages in the EU at:

(voir le site) (voir le site)

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

05/07/08

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