Welcome to you all to this very important seminar. My name is Jill Evans and I am a Member of the European Parliament, and President of the European Free Alliance who has organised this seminar today. It is an historical event as it will be the first time that I have been able to speak Welsh in a meeting in the parliament with interpretation. I am so pleased to see the Welsh language translation booth alongside the other languages - where it should be - and also alongside the Catalan language for the first time.
We, as seven EFA members of parliament have been fighting for years for recognition for all our languages in the European Union. There are 23 official languages in the European Parliament and five languages that currently have co-official status. Welsh, Catalan, Basque, Gaelic and Galician have this 'semi-official' status. But we want equality for all languages. We have gained much, but we have a long way to go. It is our challenge but also a challenge for Europe.
We will be discussing this further during the first part of the seminar when we will look at languages within the structure of the European Union.
In the second part of the seminar we will look closer at the situation of the minority languages including some which are under threat and what the European Union can do to help secure their future.
And after lunch we will hear about the linguistic diversity in the context of an expanding Europe and how people's rights are being undermined because of the language that they speak.
We will therefore be looking at three different aspects of language policy.
Today is an opportunity to network and improve the connections between our countries. During today's discussions, I am sure we will develop a better understanding, and show solidarity with each other, but also we will be able to make decisions as to how to reach our political aims together.
Thank you.
