EC law and minority language policy: Some recent developments
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Niamh Nic Shuibhne
Abstract
This contribution reviews the evolving legal framework that underpins language rules and practices in the European Union. It seeks to address EU language issues holistically, arguing in particular that concerns about the management of the official EU languages should not be divorced artificially from questions relating to minority languages. The development of the legal framework has, however, become increasingly fragmented, and this has problematic implications for both structural and substantive coherence. It is suggested that until and unless the legal foundations of EU language policy are carefully worked out, its continuing ad hoc construction will never deliver a more rational yet ideologically and legally sound EU language scheme.
Abstract
This contribution reviews the evolving legal framework that underpins language rules and practices in the European Union. It seeks to address EU language issues holistically, arguing in particular that concerns about the management of the official EU languages should not be divorced artificially from questions relating to minority languages. The development of the legal framework has, however, become increasingly fragmented, and this has problematic implications for both structural and substantive coherence. It is suggested that until and unless the legal foundations of EU language policy are carefully worked out, its continuing ad hoc construction will never deliver a more rational yet ideologically and legally sound EU language scheme.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction: Respecting linguistic diversity in the European Union 1
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Part 1. Factual and theoretical approaches
- Linguistic diversity as curse and as by-product 17
- Linguistic diversity in the European Union: An overview 47
- Principles of policy evaluation and their application to multilingualism in the European Union 73
- A one-dimensional diversity? European integration and the challenge of language policy 85
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Part 2. Protection of linguistic diversity in EU law
- Union citizenship and language rights 107
- EC law and minority language policy: Some recent developments 123
- The protection of linguistic diversity through Article 22 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights 145
- The protection of linguistic diversity through provisions of the EU Charter other than Article 22 175
- Languages that are official in part of the territory of the Member States: Second-class languages or institutional recognition in EU law? 191
- Appendix 231
- Contributors 261
- Index 265
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction: Respecting linguistic diversity in the European Union 1
-
Part 1. Factual and theoretical approaches
- Linguistic diversity as curse and as by-product 17
- Linguistic diversity in the European Union: An overview 47
- Principles of policy evaluation and their application to multilingualism in the European Union 73
- A one-dimensional diversity? European integration and the challenge of language policy 85
-
Part 2. Protection of linguistic diversity in EU law
- Union citizenship and language rights 107
- EC law and minority language policy: Some recent developments 123
- The protection of linguistic diversity through Article 22 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights 145
- The protection of linguistic diversity through provisions of the EU Charter other than Article 22 175
- Languages that are official in part of the territory of the Member States: Second-class languages or institutional recognition in EU law? 191
- Appendix 231
- Contributors 261
- Index 265
