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INVITATION WHAT LANGUAGE POLICIES FOR A MULTINGUAL EUROPEAN UNION? European Parliament, In the light of the enlargement of the EU and of the drafting of a European Constitution by the Convention, aspects of language use and communication in a multilingual community have so far been set aside. Parliamentarians and everybody who is interested in questions such as, What kind of language policies are needed in a multilingual
Community like the European Union? will have the possibility to present and discuss these sensitive issues, so crucial for the long-term cohesion of the European Union, with experts in language rights, communication and language instruction. As regards the work of the European Convention on EU citizens' rights, this symposium will allow participants to better formulate certain universal principles in relation to language and communication rights and duties of the persons living, working and travelling within the territory of this multicultural, mulilingual and multinational Union. In addition to the question: "What kind of
universal principles do we need in a multilingual community as to communication
between people?", one aspect of the symposium should, in particular,
deal with the citizens' rights and duties in the communication with
public authorities within the Member States, including rights and duties
in the context of their individual or professional relationship with
the European institutions. The conclusions of the symposium and/or a
possible declaration on communication rights and duties within the European
Union might become a useful tool for all those who have to think about
the citizens' rights and duties in a European Constitution which shall
reflect the universal idea: The organizers welcome any written proposal as to a specific topic in the programme. For stimulating the discussion, documents related to an item and a draft project of an eventual "Declaration on communication rights and duties in the European Union" will be made available on the web-site: www.europe-citizen.net. Please, communicate with the Forum's Secretariat, preferably in an electronic form (address, see below). At the time of this notice, interpretation at the symposium is not assured; if a "basic interpretation" has to be organised on a private basis, an 'interpretation fee' of about € 10,- per registered participant will have to be paid at the reception desk. For security reasons in the European Parliament, registration (normally three weeks beforehand) should be made as soon as possible. Correspondence, preferably by e-mail, should be sent
to: Forum@Europe-citizen.net On behalf of the organising committee |