Model Conference
of the Faculty of International Relations
Cultural Section
Cultural Policy of the European Union
Kingdom of Belgium
3th Statement
Bratislava, 16.02.2015
Model Conference of the Faculty of International Relations
Cultural Section: 3th Statement, Kingdom of Belgium
Model Conference of the Faculty of International Relations
on the Cultural Policy of the European Union
In the introduction, we would like to express our enthusiasm to renegotiate the
current issues in cultural section. We are honored to participate in the forthcoming
negotiations on the language policy of the European Union. We would also like to thank the
delegation of Federative Republic of Germany, France, Kingdom of Belgium, United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the countries of V4 - Czech Republic,
Hungary, Republic of Poland and Slovak Republic, for inspiring discussions, expert opinions
and existing joint conclusions, which we have achieved together at previous meetings.
LEGAL BASIS
Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and Articles 6 and 165 of the
Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU).
In the area of education and training EU treaty put the Union in place to support and
complement Member States to develop the European dimension in education, particularly
through the teaching and dissemination of the languages of the Member States (Article 165,
paragraph. 2), while fully respecting cultural and linguistic diversity (Article 165 paragraph 1).
The Charter of Fundamental Rights, adopted in 2000, which is under the Lisbon
Treaty legally binding, requires the Union to respect linguistic diversity (Article 22) and
prohibits discrimination on grounds of language (Article 21). Respect for linguistic diversity is
a core value of the EU as well as respect for the person and openness towards other
cultures. The EU institutions respect the principle of linguistic diversity and in contact with
citizens: every citizen of the Union may "write to any institution, body, office or agency
referred to in this Article" (Article 24 TFEU) "or in Article 13 of the Treaty on European Union
in one of the languages referred to in Article 55. 1 TEU and have an answer in the same
language "(Article 24 TFEU).
. Based on the legal analysis of the founding treaties of the European Union, we
therefore consider that the costs associated with this type of administration can not curtail.
Right of EU citizens to communicate with European institutions must be maintained. We
propose to find a fair distribution of the cost of translation services between all Member
States.
Languages are an important priority for the European Union. Language is an integral
part of our identity and the most immediate expression of culture. In Europe, linguistic
diversity is a fact of life. In the EU, which is based on "unity in diversity" is the ability of
individuals, organizations and companies communicate in several languages necessity.
Foreign language is seen as one of the basic skills you need to reach all EU citizens to
improve their chances of education and employment in the learning of European society, in
particular the use of the right to free movement.
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Model Conference of the Faculty of International Relations
Cultural Section: 3th Statement, Kingdom of Belgium
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK 2020
Multilingualism and linguistic diversity are sometimes conflicting policy agendas.
Language learning policy has tended to be influenced by ‘harder’ priorities like economic
competitiveness and labour market mobility, and linguistic diversity policies by ‘softer’ issues
like inclusion and human rights. We are trying to find a middle path that will take into account
the basic requirements - national interests, efficiency in communication, spending cuts, and
all within the European Union legislation.
The European Union in its efforts to promote mobility and intercultural understanding
designated language learning as an important priority and funding many programs and
projects (for example Erasmus, Erasmus+, Youth on the Move). The EU considers
multilingualism as an important element of competitiveness. One of the objectives of the
language policy is to ensure that every European citizen can speak in their mother tongue
and two other languages.
The strategic framework for education and training in 2020, language training set as a
priority. Communication in foreign languages is one of the eight key skills that are needed to
improve the quality and efficiency of education and training. In addition to the basic ability to
communicate in their mother tongue, this also includes the ability to mediation and
intercultural understanding.
EU policies in the field of education is increasingly governed by the Europe 2020
strategy in this context, language skills critical for initiative Agenda for new skills and jobs,
while increasing employment. They are also a prerequisite for mobility and hence the
successful implementation of the new flagship initiative Youth on the Move.
THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM AS ROLE MODEL
The Kingdom of Belgium has often been called a role model for the linguistic future of
Europe because of its alleged success in granting equal rights to its French and Dutch
language communities while preserving political unity. Non-violent conflict between the
language communities, however, has been part of public life in Belgium for decades.
Present-day Belgium has three official languages: Dutch with about 5.2 million speakers,
French with about 4.6 million speakers and German with about 72,000 speakers.
Multilingualism is rather common in Brussels. This holds true for French–Dutch bilingualism
but even more for the knowledge and use of other languages - English as the lingua franca
of our times.
For the above reasons, we are very pleased that we were able to push the idea of
trilingualism. English, German and French are statistically the most widely used in European
Union as foreign languages and it is the main reason, why these languages are an
appropriate choice for working languages in the European institutions.
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Model Conference of the Faculty of International Relations
Cultural Section: 3th Statement, Kingdom of Belgium
COSTS
In the issue of language policy we need to focus on the financial aspects of its
implementation. On the present, In the European Parliament, all EU languages equally
important: all parliamentary documents are translated into all official EU languages, and
every Member of the European Parliament has the right to speak in the official language of
their choice.
. In the following discussion, we would like to enforce the idea of trilingualism also in
the European Parliament due to cost reduction. As is clear from the strategic framework of
the European Union, is designed to ensure that every EU citizen spoken mother tongue and
two foreign. Members of European Parliament would be an example for all citizens and one
of their core competencies should be linguistic ability to defend its interests in one of the
three above-mentioned languages.
Finally, we would like to thank for creating space for exchange of views and we believe in
successful early negotiations within the Model conference of the Faculty of International
Relations in Bratislava.
In Bratislava, 16.02.2015
Model Conference of the Faculty of the International Relations
Delegation of the Kingdom of Belgium
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