CYMRU - EU STATUS FOR LANGUAGE UPDATE

Welsh Minister for Heritage Rhodri Glyn Thomas, is as equally curious to know what the repsonse will be to a letter sent by the Celtic League to the Welsh Office at the beginning of June 2008, as the League is.

The Celtic League wrote to Paul Murphy, the Welsh Office Minister for the UK Labour Party, about what the UK Government's position is with regard to Welsh becoming an official EU language. The letter was copied to Thomas who responded by saying that "I would be grateful if you would let me have sight of any reply you receive."

On June 3rd 2008, Plaid Cymru Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Jill Evans launched an appeal in Brussels last week for people to have the right to communicate with the European Parliament in Welsh and for members to be able to address the Parliament in Welsh with interpretation.

Ms Evans was backed by the Basque MEP Mikel Irujo, who said:

"Why is there this absurd situation in the EU where we cannot use our languages? It is the right of co-nations to be able to use their languages if we are to have real linguistic diversity."

It is a policy of the UK Government to try to respond to letters sent by the public within 20 working days. The Celtic League will be happy to forward any response received from Murphy to Thomas, in the hope that this will further the debate on Welsh gaining official EU status.

(Report prepared for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot)

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

19/06/08