Labour-Plaid argue about £½m EU translation bill

nullArticle discusses the issue of the status of the Welsh language in the European Union. The UK Government is negotiating for the limited use of Welsh in EU Institutions. Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans has made renewed calls for Welsh to become the 24th language to gain official status in the European Parliament, where Wales has four representatives. However, Welsh speaking Labour MEP Eluned Morgan said the £500,000 needed to allow this would be better used encouraging grassroots projects to promote the language.

Jill Evans MEP: Press Release, 30.6.08: Labour MEP and the Welsh language - Plaid MEP slams hypocrisy http://www.jillevans.net/jill_evans_press_welsh_080630.html

Plaid Cymru: Press Release, 4.6.08: http://www.plaidcymru.org/content.php?nID=101;ID=620;lID=1

Wales: National assembly: Labour / Plaid Groups: One Wales A progressive agenda for the government of Wales, 2007 http://www.plaidcymru.org/uploads/publications/281.pdf

Website: Eluned Morgan, MEP http://www.elunedmorgan.org.uk/

European Commission: The Official Languages of the European Union http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/languages/index_en.html

Wikipedia: Languages of the European Union http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_European_Union

European Commission: Languages portal http://europa.eu/languages/en/home

BBC News, 17.11.04: Welsh language debut in EU http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4020467.stm

BBC News, 3.6.08: Welsh 'may be used' at EU level http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7434727.stm

Jill Evans MEP: Press Release, 3.6.08: Brussels appeal: Evans urges support to make Welsh official http://www.jillevans.net/jill_evans_press_welsh_080603.html

EurActiv, 5.6.08: MEP launches appeal to make Welsh official EU language http://www.euractiv.com/en/culture/mep-launches-appeal-welsh-official-eu-language/article-173088

Celtic League: Press Release, 6.6.08: EU status for Welsh language - a firm step? http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2653

Plaid Cymru: Press Release, 2.7.08: Labour's Welsh language stance criticised http://www.plaidcymru.org/content.php?nID=14;ID=675;lID=1

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