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Slovak, Hungarian MEPS Slugging It Out over Language Law in Slovakia
Wednesday 25 November 2009 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava/Strasbourg, November 25 (TASR) - The European Commission will carry out a detailed analysis of the Slovak Language Law to assess its operation in the field, Commissioner for Multilingualism Leonard Orban told the European Parliament during a debate on the usage of languages of ethnic minorities across the European Union.
Initiated by Slovak MEP Edit Bauer and her Hungarian counterpart Kinga Gal, the debate commenced shortly before Tuesday midnight and turned into a verbal shootout between Slovak, Hungarian and Romanian members of the European Parliament – with the Hungarian nationality MEPs uniformly criticising the status of minorities.
"I am speaking on behalf of 500,000 minority and about the language law violating its rights. How can one be punished for using their mother tongue? Such a law cannot be applied," said Bauer, pointing to the swingeing fines (of up to €5,000) laid down by the law. Furthermore, she said Slovakia is failing to fulfil all its duties stemming from the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Hungarian MEP Zoltan Balczo said that Slovakia preaches specific values but does not observe them. Hungarian MEP Csaba Sogor added that Slovakia is not the only country but a prime example of a country where language genocide is in place. Romanian MEP of Hungarian origin Laszlo Tokes described the Slovak State Language Act as a disgrace for Slovakia, and as an effort to erect new walls between nations.
"We are angry that there are people who in their own country cannot speak their language because if they do they are punished," said Kinga Pal.
Slovak MEP Jaroslav Paska countered by saying that "our Hungarian friends have been teaching us of late about the use of minority languages, but somehow they forgot to look at themselves and how minorities in Hungary are being restricted in the use of their native tongue," he said.
"In Hungary, Slovak children can only dream about Slovak schools, as the Hungarian Government is not making it possible for them – unlike other governments in the European Union," said Paska.
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