EBLUL

1
Bojan Brezigar

• EBLUL
• European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages
• www.eblul.org
• TAIEX office
• Seminar for Regional
• and Minority Languages
• Brussels, 2 and 3 October 2003

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Towards an EuropeanMinority Language Policy

• Minimum standards for languages within EU to
  guarantee the principles set by
• European charter for Regional or Minority
  Languages
• Framework Convention for the Protection of
  National Minorities
• OSCE principles
• Diversity support to endangered languages
• EU Charter of fundamental rights
• Draft EU Constitutional text

3
In practice this would meanrights to

• Teach and learn (education)
• Speak and be heard (media)
• Act and be addressed (public authorities)
• Cross border structures
• Based on subsidiarity

4
In EU there are already

• More than 40 autochthonous regional or minority
  languages
• Used in well more than 100 communities
• By more than 40 million speakers

5
With next EU enlargement

• The 10 new Member States will bring in the EU
• At least 12 new autochthonous min./reg. Languages
• Used in almost 40 minority communities
• By 5-6 million speakers
• New languages not yet recognized within the EU

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What is EBLUL?

• The European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages is
  an NGO (Non Governmental Organisation)
• Established upon the proposal of the European
  Parliament
• Dealing with Regional or Minority languages, ad
  defined by the CoE European Charter

7
EBLUL works with

• European Commission
• European Parliament
• Council of Europe
• OSCE High Commissioner for National minorities
• UNESCO
• United Nations

8
EBLUL builds on

• Member State Committees in 14 countries
• Applicant committee in 1 State
• Offices in Brussels and Dublin
• Financed mainly by the European Union (DG for
  Education and Culture)
• But supported by Governments, Regional and local
  authorities as well.

9
Within May 2004

• EBLUL plans to organise its Member State
  Committees (or at least applicant committees) in
  most of the States that will enter the EU in May
  2004

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Some activities

• European network
• Political lobbying
• Documentation centre
• Publications
• Conferences, seminars, study visits, fact-finding
  missions

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Some more activities

• Information about EU activities
• News Agency related to languages
• www.eurolang.net
• Building up the portal on minority languages
• www.lingualia.net
• Partnership for diversity link with regional and
  local authorities

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and

• You are always welcome to visit us
• EBLUL
• Rue Saint-Josse 49
• B-1210 Bruxelles
• www.eblul.org
• www. eurolang.net
• www.lingualia.net