Wednesday, 28th October 2009 - 16:07CET
EU assistance for small languages possible after Maltese MEP's initiative
The European Parliament has endorsed an amendment tabled by MEP Simon Busuttil to include a budget line directing financial assistance towards lesser-used languages in the European Union.
The amendment was first approved by the Budget Committee earlier this month and given the nod this week by the European Parliament plenary during a vote at first reading on next year's EU budget.
Despite being an official EU language, the Maltese language is a lesser-used language. The purpose of Dr Busuttil's amendment was to seek support at EU level for the promotion of lesser-used languages.
"The budget line will therefore enable pilot projects and similar initiatives to promote further the practice of official languages coming from small Member States throughout the EU," the Ministry of Education said. This initiative was worked upon jointly by Dr Busuttil and the ministry.
The MEP said this initiative fitted perfectly the EU philosophy of language diversity and multilingualism. "Lesser-used languages have tougher challenges to overcome, not least in terms of resources, and this initiative goes some way in overcoming these challenges."
Education Minister Dolores Cristina also welcomed the initiative, saying Malta should seize all available opportunities at EU level to support and strengthen the Maltese language.
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Comments
I never said we are second class citizens because of the size of our population, on the other hand our small size can be an advantage in some respects
for your info I do not live in Malta so I do not know more maltese who applied for EU posts, I know more Germans and Bulgarians who did and did not get accepted
Your arguement is out of line. Are we second class citizens just because of the size of our population??
Also, it is obvious that you know more maltese who managed to land an eu job than bulgarian or german .... you also know more maltese who applied for an eu job than bulgarian or german.
For your information, there is actually a shortage of maltese working in Brussels. The 5 year period reserving posts in maltese units for maltese citizens is over and from now on these posts can be filled by other EU citizens who actually need less requirements to be eligible to apply.
The current local movement promoting made-up history, 'greatness' and culture (chocolate 'tradition', folk music, literature, language and dialects, etc ) is just a barometer of the state the country is in, indicating clearly that escapism is the only consolation to our despair.
On these same lines, we even had our Euro politicians speaking Maltese in the EU parliament! This is just a sign of chauvinism of the kind that was demonstrated in La Pelota Basca. Regional languages have no place in politics. Imagine Berlusconi speaking Lombardo at the EU parliament. Do he does it ?: NO! He speaks a proper language, a language with a history, a language that is rich and technical : Italian. Regional languages have no place in a globalised society either.
Stop wasting time and promote proper European languages and Chinese!
good work, important project to invest in improving the Maltese language
apart from finance writers, publishers, journalists , I would also include translators, we also write in Maltese :-))
I don't know about the situation of Maltese students in Brussels but if they are indeed studying Maltese as a third language, then they can forget getting a tertiary education in Malta in courses such as law, where one has to know Maltese to be able to read the laws. How can the parents seriously want their children to learn their mother tongue as a third language? I can speak and write SIX languages fluently, but Maltese is still my first language and will always be, and it is the only one I speak without an accent. It did not stop me from learning other languages, so parents who think they are doing a favour to their children by giving them French and English as their main languages are doing a big mistake. In Malta their children will have problems, and cannot study what they want, probably will have to study and live abroad anyway cause they will feel out of place in their home country. If that is what the parents want, then go ahead.
I would not see it so negatively though, I know friends of mine from Bulgaria and Germany who have been sitting for EU tests for years and years in order to get an EU post and are never accepted, in these countries the competition is more because of the number of candidates applying and they really take the best of the best. However I know Maltese who passed the tests immediately. It seems to me that we have more advantages than disadvantages due to our size as far as working for EU institutions. As I said these Bulgarian and German friends of mine are highly qualified, have a great deal of knowledge, even about EU institutions themselves and have not managed to come in. While I know many Maltese who managed. I think most have a university degree when they apply anyway.
Solution - Remove the English language as being an official language in Malta. France is an ex German colony, they don't speak German there, niether english. After two savage European wars, ignited by nations that speak BIG languages, the United States of America had to make good for what these nations that speak BIG languages did to europe itself. Britain, Germany and France are still proud nations, I simply cannot see why Malta should not be proud of its less priviledged language. English should only be used when it comes to doing bussiness or negotiatiions with the United States of America, just as the French and Germans do. When one lives and works there, people will make sure you learn their mother languages wether you like it or not.
The ENGLISH Language is a very beautifull and an ever dynamic language, and I respect it really.
Readers please do comment dearly on my "small" comment !!
By the way, SMALL IS BEAUTIFULL..................nobody is afraid of you !!!!!
Soon those who want to contribute towards the Maltese language while working in an AST (secretarial) category will be required to be in posession of a Degree in Nuclear Science in order to be able to do so! How can we improve the status of the Maltese language when our own educational system and general attitude towards it remains a mess that spawns unfairness?
If you look at Annex 1 (EUR 10) you will notice that the example of requirements needed by Maltese for grades AST1 to AST7 are 2 A levels and 4 intermediates including systems of knowledge.
If you compare it to the country with the closest education system, probably UK, they only require 2 A levels or equivalent and grades A to E are accepted.
Not to mention there are other countries that require less too.
I cannot understand your point about maltese citizens being disadvantaged when competing for european posts, I looked at the appendix 1 but I see no disadvantage for Maltese there . can you be more concrete in your point please?
Good to see that the language my family speaks at home is getting more support and recognition it so dearly deserves. My english is not bad at all,.............. no......!!!!!!!
Thanks to whom ??
Ommi u Missieri
Can the MEP or the Education Minister explain why EU citizens with maltese language as their mother tongue are disadvantaged when compared to all other EU citizens with regards to applying for vacancies with the EU???
Have a look at Annex I of these guidelines for applicants
http://europa.eu/epso/apply/how/guidelines/pdf/guide_ast_77-86_en.pdf