MEP François Alfonsi appeals for vital support on minority language

EFA MEP François Alfonsi, the co-chair of the Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages intergroup, held a press conference supporting the demands from cultural and linguistic minorities to the Conference on the Future of Europe. Loránt Vincze (EPP), co-chair of the Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages intergroup alongside MEP Alfonsi, also spoke at the press conference in Strasbourg.

Last year, the European Commission failed to legislate on the "Minority Safepack" from the European Citizens Initiative, approved by a large majority of the European Parliament, turning its back to the 50 million European citizens belonging to cultural minorities. The twelve proposals from the European Language Equality Network, the Federal Union of European Nationalities, and the Network to Promote Linguistic Diversity include demands for more regulation and directives towards endangered and minority languages, as well as more protection and legislation to ensure their preservation. 

François Alfonsi, MEP, said:

"Lingustic diversities are at the heart of Europe."

"The Conference on the Future of Europe cannot be only a media event, and it must look at the substantive issues that minorities suffer." 

"Amongst important problems, we have the cultural and linguistic diversity of Europe, which is at the centre of its identity, and whose existence is truly threatened."

Here you can find the Proposals