Plaid MEP Jill Evans is launching an appeal for individuals and institutions in Wales to support moves to make Welsh a co-official language in the European Parliament.

Ms Evans launched the appeal in Brussels on Tuesday 3 June. The MEP wants 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 has long been campaigning for official status for the Welsh language at EU level and this now has the support of the One Wales Government. Negotiations are currently underway with the EU Council and an arrangement is expected by the end of June. Arrangements for translation are also being made.

The purpose of Ms Evans' appeal is to demonstrate to the European Parliament that there is real demand for this facility in Parliament and that people and organisations would use Welsh if they had the opportunity. Jill Evans will be writing to all Welsh public bodies and a range of voluntary and private sector organisations to seek their support. It is hoped that the European Parliament's authorities will be persuaded to implement the new language regime, together with the Council of Ministers, Commission, and the Committee of the Regions.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Jill Evans said:

"I've been campaigning for several years to win official recognition of Welsh at European level and I welcome the support I've received from many organisations and individuals in Wales.

"Giving Welsh an official status at EU level has more than symbolic value. Welsh speakers will be able to communicate with EU institutions in their own language. This is vitally important when it affects so many aspects of our lives.

"My appeal is specifically about the European Parliament which decides its own rules. We have to show that people in Wales want the same rights as other countries like Catalonia and the Basque Country.

"The One Wales government has made a strong commitment to achieving this and all arrangements are in hand. There should be positive knock-on effects for the Welsh economy as well as raising our profile as a nation in Europe"

Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Culture, Sport and the Welsh Language Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM said:

"This is an issue that we've taken up with the Commission because without a doubt we believe that it should be a right for Welsh people to use either of our National languages in correspondence with the European parliament.

“Through the One Wales government Plaid is determined to strengthen the rights of Welsh speakers in all key areas, and communications with the European parliament is one of them. It would also be a great boost to the Welsh language to be actively used at such a high profile and constitutionally important level."

Diwedd/Ends.