Breakthrough in Europe for Yr Iaith Gymraeg

Important agreement on Welsh in Europe reached in Brussels

Plaid MEP Jill Evans has hailed what she described as an 'important agreement to give Welsh co-official status in the European Union'. The decision was formalised today in Brussels when the UK Government reached agreement with the EU Council of Ministers.

The Plaid MEP worked with the One Wales Government for the move, and negotiations were then taken forward by the member state government. At the moment the agreement only applies to the Council but is expected to be extended to other EU institutions.

Jill Evans - who has been campaigning for many years to improve the status of Welsh in the EU - said:

"I'm delighted we've been able to achieve co-official status for Welsh in the EU. Whilst initially this will apply to the Council of Ministers, the intention is to extend this so that people and organisations in Wales will be able to correspond and communicate with the EU institutions in either of our two official languages. There will also be limited interpretation from Welsh available at some official EU meetings.

"The European Union affects our daily lives more and more and it's only right that people in Wales should be able to choose Welsh to deal with the EU institutions if they so wish.

"This is an important day for the Welsh language, I want to pay tribute to all those who've taken part in the campaign and I would also like to thank Heritage Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas and Presiding Officer Dafydd Elis-Thomas for their unfailing support."

diwedd / ends
(Alan in Dyfed is at present in Dyfnaint)