ARTICLE
TITLE

The protection of minority languages at the european level

SUMMARY

The linguistic diversity within the European Union is an expression of the multiculturalism and plurality which is the basis of today’s Europe. That is why the EU institutions have adopted various regulations aimed at the promotion, preservation and protection of the languages used by EU citizens, especially those of so-called regional or minority groups. Though implementing this protection is delegated to Member States themselves, the EU authorities for their part have also taken decisive steps in order to ensure the continued health of the languages that enrich the idiosyncrasies of both the Member States and of the Union itself. While the protection of minorities at a Community level was not an initial priority at the outset of the EU given the greater importance of economic and political considerations. However, with the entry into force of the Treaty of Maastricht there has been a significant change in this respect; the recognition of minority rights has now become a reality. This recognition is now given due consideration as evidenced by the provisions of both the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Treaty of Lisbon. This paper has outlined the progress that has been made in the protection of linguistic minorities at the EU community level, without forgetting the work within other extra-Eu institutions, as it is the case of the Council of Europe, among others, without whose work the levels of protection of existing minority languages not have reached today.La diversidad lingüística existente en el seno de la Unión Europea supone una expresión de la multiculturalidad y de la pluralidad que no es sino la base de la Europa actual. Es por ello que desde las instituciones han sido adoptadas distintas normativas tendentes a la promoción, conservación y protección de la lenguas utilizadas por los ciudadanos comunitarios, especialmente de las denominadas regionales o minoritarias, ya que si bien es verdad, que esta protección ha de ser llevada a cabo por los propios Estados miembros, las autoridades comunitarias han dado pasos decisivos en aras a garantizar la no desaparición de las lenguas que enriquecen la idiosincrasia tanto de los Estados como de la propia Unión. La protección en el ámbito comunitario de las minorías no supuso en los indicios de la andadura comunitaria un hecho prioritario, pues en aquellos primeros momentos se incidió en otros aspectos, como el económico o el político que se consideraron más importantes. Sin embargo, con la entrada en vigor del Tratado de Maastricht se produjo un cambio significativo en este aspecto, ya que el reconocimiento de los derechos de las minorías va a convertirse en una realidad. Desde entonces se va a incidir mucho en su protección como queda patente en el tratamiento que de él hace la Carta de los Derechos Fundamentales o el Tratado de Lisboa. En este trabajo vamos ha hacer un recorrido por la evolución que ha sufrido la protección de las minorías lingüísticas en el ámbito comunitario, sin olvidar la labor realizada en el seno de otras instituciones extracomunitarias, como es el caso del Consejo de Europa entre otras, sin cuya labor no se hubieran alcanzado los niveles de protección de las lenguas minoritarias existentes en la actualidad.

 Articles related

Ihintza Palacín,Ainhoa Martinez,Lorena Ortuoste    

Our research area consists in the struggles suffered by the Basque minority, which were and are caused by the Spanish and French states. We claim that from the point of view of post-national human rights law, the threats experienced throughout history we... see more


Bani Syarif Maula    

Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, and Muslims in this country live in a pluralistic society harmoniously in their daily life. The absence of any reference to Islam in the Constitution shows that Indonesia is open to all religions besides Islam... see more


Eduardo Augusto Salomão CAMBI,Adriane GARCEL    

Objetivo: O trabalho tem como propósito a análise dos efeitos jurídicos devidos às famílias simultâneas. Identificou-se, pelo estado da arte, que não há uma tutela adequada para garantir os direitos das famílias simultâneas. Não existe legislação e há ap... see more


Rafiqa Sari, Winanda Kusuma, A. Cery Kurnia    

The Board of Directors in carrying out the management of the company is subject to the principles of civil law. If the Board of Directors deviates from the principle, it is called conducting Ultra Vires. This action can certainly have positive and negati... see more


Francois Venter    

The (sometimes fragile) balance between South Africa's constitutional obligations to protect and promote human rights in the international arena and the realities of political practice is the focus of this paper. The Constitution provides for solid duali... see more