Europe's traditional linguistic diversity is disappearing. Century old and traditionally spoken regional languages are in serious danger of extinction. With every census conducted, the number of autochthonous (indigenous) minority language speakers is decreasing. This applies to "stateless" languages, including Irish, Sorbian, Frisian, Basque, Catalonian, Galician, Scottish, Welsh, Cornish, Friulian, Kashubian or Breton, as well as other traditional minority languages, mostly spoken in boundary areas, like Danish/German in Germany/Denmark, German in Poland/the Czech Republic/Italy, Hungarian in Slovakia/Romania/Serbia, Polish in the Czech Republic/Belarus/the Ukraine, Swedish in Finland, or Slovene in Austria/Italy, to mention just a few examples.

The protection of Europe's linguistic diversity is of enormous importance to the future development of the continent. Protecting the linguistic plurality of traditional multilingual regions is not only about safeguarding the rights of a few, it is an indispensable part of the European unification process and the only path to peace, respect and co-existence between nations and ethnic groups in the Europe of tomorrow. Most of the existing conflicts between European states have territorial roots and concern traditional settlement areas of minorities, or bi- and multilingual regions.

Europe will only become a continent of peace and unity if we create a place for everyone- majorities, minorities and expellees. We therefore have to (a) recognise our linguistic heritage regardless of historic animosities, (b) maintain and regenerate the multilingual character of historically multilingual regions, and (c) allow all Europeans to celebrate their unique identity in their traditional areas of settlement.

I appeal for your support of the European Linguistic Heritage Act

Peter Josika

Click here to find out why an Act to protect Europe's linguistic heritage is necessary

Click here to read the proposal for a European Linguistic Heritage Act

Click here to sign your name in support of the Act.