Listen to all Europe's languages to shape Europe's future
Press release from EFA MEPs Jordi Solé and François Alfonsi
With the launch of a digital platform to allow citizens’ voices to be heard in the Conference on the Future of Europe, EFA MEPs have expressed regret that the platform is restricted solely to the EU’s 24 official languages.
This will potentially exclude millions of European citizens who speak another language as their mother tongue, such as Catalan, Corsican, Galician, Basque, Breton, Occitan, Romani, Sorbian or other languages such as Russian, Arabic, or Turkish.
EFA MEPs are calling for the platform to welcome contributions from EU citizens in all of Europe’s languages, truly reflecting the diversity of today’s Europe.
They have welcomed an amendment tabled by German Green MEP Niklas Nienaß and adopted by the European Parliament’s Culture Committee this week which emphasises the importance of citizens being able to use their mother tongue in dialogue and participation in EU decision making.
EFA President and Catalan MEP Jordi Solé said:
“If we truly want to enable European citizens to have their say on the future of Europe, then the best way to do that is in their own languages.
“We welcome the Conference on the Future of Europe and the digital platform launched this week, but limiting participation to just the 24 official EU languages is a huge mistake.
“If this process is to succeed then it must be as inclusive as possible. Millions of Europeans speak a first language that isn’t one of the 24 official EU languages – it’s completely unacceptable to exclude them from this vital conversation about Europe’s future.”
EFA MEP François Alfonsi said:
“The Conference on the Future of Europe is a unique opportunity to let Europe’s citizens shape the future direction of the European Union. That’s why it needs to be as open and inclusive as possible, welcoming the voices of all citizens, regardless of what language they speak.
“Why should the millions of European citizens whose first language isn’t on the list of the 24 official languages be discriminated against?
“If we truly believe in a Europe that is united in diversity, then we must welcome contributions in all of Europe’s languages. And a digital platform is a great way to enable that.”
