EU Set To Replace English With French As It’s ‘Working Language’

EU Set To Replace English With French As It's ‘Working Language’

EU Set To Replace English With French As It's ‘Working Language’. image: Wikipedia

EU Set To Replace English With French As It’s ‘Working Language’.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s government is drawing up plans to replace English as the official “working language” of the EU when it takes over the Council of the European Union presidency in 2022-  a diplomat has revealed.

France is planning to use its first presidency since Brexit to push its native tongue as the “lingua franca” of Brussels, according to a report in Politico.

A senior French diplomat told the website: “Even if we admit that English is a working language and it is commonly practiced, the basis to express oneself in French remains fully in place in the EU institutions. We must enrich it, and make it live again so that the French language truly regains ground, and above that, the taste and pride of multilingualism.”

It is the first French presidency of the council since Nicolas Sarkozy’s government held the position in 2008.

Emmanuel Macron, the current French president, has been working continuously to boost the French language worldwide, even including supporting Francophone projects in Africa. He will also be fighting off far-right rival Marine LePen at next year’s presidential election, who has branded herself as the protector of the ‘French way of life’.

According to the latest statistics, at least 80% of Commission officials list French as their first, second or third language,

France has now offered free French lessons to any diplomat who may find themselves tongue-tied by the change. The EU presidency rotates among member states every six months and is held by a national government rather than one single individual.

In an article for Le Figaro, they said the use of French in Brussels “had diminished to the benefit of English, and more often to Globish – that ersatz of the English language, which narrows the scope of one’s thoughts, and restricts one’s ability to express him or herself”.

 

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Ron Howells

Ron actually started his working career as an Ophthalmic Technician- things changed when, during a band rehearsal, his amplifier blew up and he couldn’t get it fixed so he took a course at Birmingham University and ended up doing a degree course. He built up a chain of electronics stores and sold them as a franchise over 35 years ago. After five years touring the world Ron decided to move to Spain with his wife and son, a place they had visited over the years, and only bought the villa they live in because it has a guitar-shaped swimming pool!. Playing the guitar since the age of 7, he can often be seen, (and heard!) at beach bars and clubs along the length of the coast. He has always been interested in the news and constantly thrives to present his articles in an interesting and engaging way.

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