Welsh MEPs should be able to represent Wales in both of our official languages, says Plaid.
Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans has renewed calls for Welsh language interpretation to be provided in the European Parliament, in line with provision in other EU institutions.
Jill Evans has taken the matter up directly with the newly elected President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz.
The Party of Wales MEP pointed to inconsistencies in current rules which allow Welsh to be spoken in the EU’s Council of Ministers, Committee of the Regions and Economic and Social Committee.
Jill Evans successfully campaigned for Welsh to gain co-official status as a language of the European Union. But although the language can be used in some European institutions, it has been blocked in the European Parliament for political reasons.
Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans said:
“Welsh is a co-official language of the European Union. Having this status raises our profile in Europe and helps put Wales on the map. There are also economic benefits for Wales of having this status.
“Whilst Welsh can be spoken in meetings of the EU’s Council of Ministers and other institutions, at present no Welsh interpretation is offered on the floor of the European Parliament. This has to change.
“I congratulate Mr Schulz on his re-election as President of the European Parliament. I have taken this up with him directly and he has promised to look into the matter. I will hold him to that.
“If the EU is to be relevant to all of the peoples of Europe, what better way than by letting them use their own languages in all of the EU institutions.”
