The European Council is due to vote on the European status of two Celtic languages today (Tuesday 15th July 2008), after talks begun between the Westminster Government and Europe early last month. If agreed, the Scots Gaelic and Welsh languages will be given the same EU status currently enjoyed by the Basque, Catalan and Galician languages, where citizens have the right to send correspondence to the EU in their native language and receive a reply in that language.

The new status will also give the right for representatives to use mthe Scots Gaelic and Welsh languages at an EU level in some meetings and receive simultaneous interpretation. However, the development will fall short of granting Scots Gaelic and Welsh full mofficial status, which was granted to the Irish Gaelic language in 2005. The vote giving Scots Gaelic and Welsh semi official EU status is expected to be carried, because of support from London, on condition that the Scottish and Welsh parliaments pay the costs.

However, this will mean that the Breton and Cornish languages will mbe the last remaining Celtic tongues to be without any right at an EU political level. It is not expected that London will petition the European Council for the Cornish language to be given similar EU rights to Scots Gaelic and Welsh any time soon and hopes that Breton is officially heard in the European Parliament without backing from Paris – which barely recognises the existence of Breton - is far too optimistic.

The League hopes that the Scottish and Welsh public and political representatives make the most of the new European service and don't simply reply on English as the main means of communication to and in European political institutions, as has been the case of Irish language users in the past.

(Reported prepared for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot)

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

15/07/08

• Emmanuel Grégoire et l’abbé Macron  par David Grosclaude le 23/11/2024
• Pays de Redon. La Bogue d’or, rendez-vous du « génie populaire » par Le blog de paul Molac le 05/11/2024
• Catherine Vautrin en Corse : Régions et Peuples Solidaires appelle l’Etat à enfin aboutir sur l'autonomie par RPS le 25/10/2024
• Gouvernement Barnier : des nominations inquiétantes par RPS le 24/09/2024
• Quelle future gouvernance en France ? par Marcel Berrou le 08/07/2024
• Après deux cycles de trois ans du Parlement de Bretagne réveillé, voici venir le troisième cycle ! par KAD le 01/07/2024
• Résolution pour la Réunification de la Bretagne à la XIXème Assemblée Générale de l'UNPO à Munich, les 11 et 12 mai 2024 : par KAD le 07/05/2024
• TER Nouvelle Aquitaine : quelle honte !   par David Grosclaude le 18/04/2024
• Les Braises de la Rencontre, le 5 mai 2024, sur le parc de sculptures mémorial de MAB Koad Sav Pell ! par MAB, Musée Archipel Breton le 16/04/2024
• Koun Breizh s’indigne : Non ! les festoù-noz ne sont pas des lieux réservés aux « attardés » ! par Koun Breizh - Bertaign Tenant - Mémoire-de-Bretagne le 07/01/2024