2003 Parliamentary Question by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the European Commission

Parliamentary Questions
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1140/03
by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the European Commission

(19 March 2003)

Click Here to Read the Response by Dr. Nakratzas »

Subject: The EBLUL and the systematic defamation of an EU Member State
It is a known fact that in Greece democratic freedoms and cultural diversity are fully protected and safeguarded. The growing Muslim minority in the Greek region of Thrace accordingly enjoys comprehensive media access (newspapers, radio stations, unimpeded reception of Turkish satellite stations, many of which constantly vilify Greece etc.), is represented by elected Muslim deputies in the Greek parliament and has numerous places of worship, built and restored with funding from the Greek Government.

All other minorities however small, enjoy similar freedom, for example, the tiny Slav community of Florina, which has its own party structure freely exercising its mandate, (with offices, newspapers, and total freedom of expression, never failing to revile both Greece and the Greeks and entering a tiny contingent in all electoral contests. Anti-Greek propaganda has recently been stepped up, spearheaded by the European Bureau for Lesser-Used languages (EBLUL). Recently, a book (co-funded by the Commission as mentioned on page 2) full of "advice" and "hints" (p.6 and elsewhere) for Greece was distributed to MEPs. Page 5, contains a reference to "Macedonian" speakers in Greece, while the EBLUL President, Mr Brezigar, recommends (p.12) that "Greeks should learn English as well as Macedonian".

Does the Commission (which is apparently providing funding for the activities of the Bureau) agree with Mr Brezigar's historically questionable references to a "Macedonian" language? What exact amounts (broken down by item) has the Bureau received from the European Union and for which years exactly. Why is funding being provided for a bureau circulating propaganda against a Member State? What action is being taken by the Bureau in countries where minority cultures are being oppressed, for example the Greek communities in Albania and Turkey? Does the Commission know whether EBLUL Committees in Member States of the Union contain extreme nationalist elements being incited by third countries systematically to provoke tension in specific areas of the Union? What are the names of the members of the EBLUL Committee in Greece and in what precise professional or other capacity are they designated?

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