The European Commission has recently answered two French MEPs’ questions regarding the current status of the Breton language at the EU level.
Back in 2009, French MEP Alain Cadec (PPE) had expressed his concern on the status of the Breton language at the EU level, asking whether it could be recognized as an official language. The MEP justified this claim by referring to amendments brought to the French Constitution 2008 confirming regional languages as part of the French heritage. He reminded that Catalan, Galician and Welsh are recognized in national laws.
In its answer to Alain Cadec, the Commission reminded that the rules governing the languages of EU institutions are determined by the Council and laid down by Regulation 1/1958 of the Council determining the languages to be used in the European Economic Community. Determining or changing the list of EU official languages requires unanimity by the Council and needs no proposal from the Commission. The Commission also highlighted that the languages mentioned by the MEP do not have an official language status at EU level. However, administrative agreements between the EU and Spain or the United Kingdom authorize the use of additional languages within certain areas and EU bodies.
The Commission also had to reply to another question raised by French MEP François Alfonsi (Greens-EFA) regarding the impossibility to receive EU funds for the translation of literary works in Breton. Mr Alfonsi had asked the Commission whether the specific strand of the Culture 2007 Programme focusing on Literary Translation could fund the translation of a Shakespeare work into Breton. To justify this, he also pointed out the new article of the French Constitution which confirms regional languages as part of the French heritage.
In its answer, the Commission clarified that the reference to regional languages in the French Constitution does not mean that Breton now has an official status. Commissioner Vassiliou confirmed that Breton does not have the official language status in France and therefore cannot be eligible for funding under the Culture Programme.