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Document 91997E003955

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3955/97 by Yvan BLOT to the Commission. Use of mother tongue by Commission Members in plenary

OJ C 158, 25.5.1998, p. 196 (ES, DA, DE, EL, EN, FR, IT, NL, PT, FI, SV)

European Parliament's website

91997E3955

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3955/97 by Yvan BLOT to the Commission. Use of mother tongue by Commission Members in plenary

Official Journal C 158 , 25/05/1998 P. 0196


WRITTEN QUESTION E-3955/97 by Yvan Blot (NI) to the Commission (12 December 1997)

Subject: Use of mother tongue by Commission Members in plenary

On 5 November 1997 Commission Member Mr Van den Broek spoke in plenary exclusively in English. If all Members of the Commission were to do likewise, dropping their national language, English would become the de facto official language of the Commission.

For reasons of principle, viz. the equal status of the official languages within the European Union, would it not be preferable for each Commission Member to use his or her mother tongue when addressing the European Parliament in plenary sitting?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (22 December 1997)

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that, when its Members address another Community institution, their only obligation is to use one of the official languages of the Community.

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