91998E1146

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1146/98 by Hilde Hawlicek (PSE) to the Commission (24 April 1998)

Subject: Equality of opportunity in the admission of Austrian interpreters and translators to the European Union's language service

In the Austrian Treaty on Accession, Protocol No 10 'on the use of specific Austrian terms of the German language in the framework of the European Union' recognized the existence of Austrian variants in the German language. However this recognition is restricted to 23 terms which mainly relate to the food sector and the Austrian terms in other specialist areas, in particular the legal sector, are ignored.

In June 1995 the Council adopted a resolution on languages in the European Union. It referred to the maintenance of the linguistic diversity in the European Union and, in relation to subsidiarity, to the promotion of multilingualism with equal respect for the languages of the Union.

However sufficient account has not yet been taken of the fact that, with Austria's accession to the European Union, there are now two variants of German being used.

Because of the current legal situation the use of Austrian terms is not permitted in EU selection procedure for Austrian translators and interpreters and such terms are therefore marked as mistakes in the admission tests. As this constitutes a serious competitive disadvantage for Austrian applicants, the Commission is asked:

How does it intend to establish equality of opportunity for German and Austrian translators and interpreters for admission to the European Union's language service?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (10 June 1998)

In competitions for German-speaking translators of Austrian nationality which the Commission organised with other Community institutions in 1996/97 (EUR/LA99 and 100), the use of Austrian terms was neither ruled out nor penalised. The reserve lists drawn up following these competitions included 22 successful candidates in all. Successful candidates have been and will be recruited as posts become vacant.

Following accession by Austria and in preparation for the forthcoming Austrian Presidency, the Commission's Joint Interpreting and Conference Service, which is aware of the Austrian variant of the German language, has been working with the Austrian authorities to organise language enrichment visits to Vienna and Graz in May and July 1997 and March and April 1998; interpreters whose language combinations include German enjoyed the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the specific terms of this variant of German, particularly in the legal, economic, administrative, financial and banking fields or to study or perfect their knowledge of them.

In its competitions and admission tests, the Commission does not regard the use of 'Austrian terms' as a mistake and will continue to ensure equal treatment for German-speaking translators and interpreters irrespective of their nationality.