The Slovakian State Language Law endangers the functionality of the internal market

2010-03-09

The European Parliament (EP) is holding its monthly plenary session in Strasbourg this week, the MEPs debating the EU’s common foreign and security policy, as well as the issues surrounding the upcoming Roma summit due in March.

In his speech during the debates on matters of political importance MEP Sógor Csaba reminded his fellow members about the opinion of the European Commission’s Committee of Legal Affairs about the Slovakian State Language Law. In this respect Sógor Csaba pointed out the dysfunction the law and its applications will most likely cause in the common internal market, that is in fact one of the greatest achievements of the EU.

The Committee of Legal Affairs did not find the newly amended state language law compatible with the principles about freedom of services and concluded that it may impose constraints on the free circulation of labor. The law may also lead to discrimination in the health system. The Committee’s opinion, dating back to December 2009, although not an official stand-point, suggests that the State Language Law seems to be defending the state vs. citizen, not conversely the right of the citizen vs. the state, as it should be.

Sógor Csaba prompted the European Commission to ensure the proper application of Community Regulations and warned against perturbation in the common market.

Vissza