Csaba Sógor emphasized the importance of the protection of Catalan language rights
In its meeting held during the plenary session of the EP from last week, the European Parliament’s Intergroup for Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages debated several topics related to the language rights of traditional national minorities.
The agenda consisted of the presentation of several publications in the subject. First, Professor Alex Riemersma of the Mercator Research Institute presented the recently published methodological guide for the early learning of the Frisian language, followed by the editors and authors of the SVI – Südtiroler Volksgruppen-Institut, who presented their publications. The quarterly Europaisches Journal für Minderheitenfragen – IGM was presented by Dr. Beata Sybille-Pfeil, while the book presenting the South-Tyrolean culture (Südtirolismen. Erinnerungskulturen - Gegenwartsreflexionen - Zukunftvisionen) was presented by the author, Georg Grote.
Professor Riemersma devised the methodology of the Early Transmission of Linguistic Heritage through the EU funded MELT (Multilingual Early Language Transmission) program. The aim of MELT is to provide early multilingual education for children between the ages of 0 and 4, although later it was extended to children between 0 and 8 through the involvement of highly trained kindergarten teachers who also provided on-line courses. The novelty of the project is that it provides development courses not only for practicing teachers, but also for those not yet qualified who are currently conducting their studies.
Professor Riemersma did not hide the fact that the implementation of the project is set back by the lack of properly trained kindergarten teachers. He considers that this problem could be solved through the initiation of multilingual MA courses. He also feels that the Frisian authorities’ initiative needs more technical and financial support.
The interdisciplinary minority journal IGM is being published since 2008: it is a mainly scientific journal, which can be used by politicians and specialists alike. It has proven to be a great tool for researchers, professors and decision makers. The online edition has over 400 viewers.
South-Tyrolean EPP MEP Berndt Posselt suggested that the journal follow the situation of Germans in Slovenia and Albanians in Serbia as well.
DAHR’s MEP Csaba Sógor saluted the fact that the relationship between Szeklerland and South Tyrol is tightening and said that the latter should be considered a model for the implementation of linguistic rights and that its achievement should be followed by other member states as well. The MEP also called attention to the fact that, according to recent information, the use of Catalan in the public administration of the Balearic Islands is being threatened, even though it is an official language there.
Co-president of the Intergroup, MSZP MEP Csaba Tabajdi expressed his belief that the autonomy in South Tyrol had a large contribution to the economic development of the region and urged for the model to be adopted by other member states of the EU as soon as possible. On the other hand, he suggested that the relation between the economic situation of a region and the level of danger minority language rights face there should be seriously considered as a topic of research.
FIDESZ’s MEP György Schöpflin reflected on the remarks of previous speakers and said that all across Europe decision makers needed to acknowledge an awakening of minority identity.
South-Tyrolean EPP MEP Herbert Dorfmann considered that there is a need for an economic survey that explains the impact of the autonomy of the German speaking population of South Tyrol on the regions' productivity and development.
Professor Riemersma devised the methodology of the Early Transmission of Linguistic Heritage through the EU funded MELT (Multilingual Early Language Transmission) program. The aim of MELT is to provide early multilingual education for children between the ages of 0 and 4, although later it was extended to children between 0 and 8 through the involvement of highly trained kindergarten teachers who also provided on-line courses. The novelty of the project is that it provides development courses not only for practicing teachers, but also for those not yet qualified who are currently conducting their studies.
Professor Riemersma did not hide the fact that the implementation of the project is set back by the lack of properly trained kindergarten teachers. He considers that this problem could be solved through the initiation of multilingual MA courses. He also feels that the Frisian authorities’ initiative needs more technical and financial support.
The interdisciplinary minority journal IGM is being published since 2008: it is a mainly scientific journal, which can be used by politicians and specialists alike. It has proven to be a great tool for researchers, professors and decision makers. The online edition has over 400 viewers.
South-Tyrolean EPP MEP Berndt Posselt suggested that the journal follow the situation of Germans in Slovenia and Albanians in Serbia as well.
DAHR’s MEP Csaba Sógor saluted the fact that the relationship between Szeklerland and South Tyrol is tightening and said that the latter should be considered a model for the implementation of linguistic rights and that its achievement should be followed by other member states as well. The MEP also called attention to the fact that, according to recent information, the use of Catalan in the public administration of the Balearic Islands is being threatened, even though it is an official language there.
Co-president of the Intergroup, MSZP MEP Csaba Tabajdi expressed his belief that the autonomy in South Tyrol had a large contribution to the economic development of the region and urged for the model to be adopted by other member states of the EU as soon as possible. On the other hand, he suggested that the relation between the economic situation of a region and the level of danger minority language rights face there should be seriously considered as a topic of research.
FIDESZ’s MEP György Schöpflin reflected on the remarks of previous speakers and said that all across Europe decision makers needed to acknowledge an awakening of minority identity.
South-Tyrolean EPP MEP Herbert Dorfmann considered that there is a need for an economic survey that explains the impact of the autonomy of the German speaking population of South Tyrol on the regions' productivity and development.
