For whom isn’t familiar with the maze of the European institutions, it is worth specifying that this publication concerns the Committee of the Regions: the assembly of local and regional representatives that provides sub-national authorities with a direct voice within the European Union. Created on March 9, 1994, following the Maastricht Treaty, the CoR is meant to reduce the gap between citizens and the European authorities by involving the elected level of government closest to them. Quite a logical initiative after all, considering that about 75% of the European legislation applies at local or regional level.

Formed of 344 members appointed by the European governments for a renewable period of 5 years, the CoR is consulted for any decision bearing local consequences in the following areas: economic and social policy, health, education and culture, the environment, vocational training, and transport.

Last June 30, the Committee drafted a notice on protecting and developing historical linguistic minorities under the Lisbon Treaty, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, on September 2.

One section after the other, the document outlines the importance of historical minorities in Europe, their positive effects both for the social and cultural sphere in general and on the people and their communities in particular, and the growing awareness of European citizens on these questions.

On a negative note, the CoR reports that “a 2008 European Parliament study revealed that funding for linguistic diversity had decreased in relation to the growing number of Community languages”.

The Committee recommends the following actions:

– Support the teaching of languages, particularly minority or regional ones, under various headings such as the training of teachers

– Promote the use of these languages in direct contact between the European institutions and the citizens

– Use information campaigns to familiarize Europeans with the rights of linguistic minorities

– Integrate minority or regional languages into Union “policies, programs and cross-cutting priorities, with special reference to policy on the audio-visual sector, education at all levels, the cultural sector and language learning, together with policy on territorial cooperation, regional development, the tourism sector and youth exchanges.”

The Opinion concludes by calling on the European Commission and Council “to take more account of the need for a specific policy on linguistic minorities that is adequately funded and underpinned by a firmer legal basis”; and “to take the approach of developing their historical linguistic communities (…), in the knowledge that giving recognition to cultural heritage is conducive to peaceful coexistence and a richer European identity.”

A deep bow… in regret, however, that the CoR is no more than an advisory body.

Full document available here.