Speech on the plenary session of the European Parliament on the Slovak language law

Strasbourg, 24th November 2009

The Slovak language is one of the most beautiful languages of Europe. It is unfortunate, therefore, that it is very seldom heard in the European Parliament. As a true friend of Slovakia, a supporter of its development, a modest but active contributor to the famous and groundbreaking Slovak reforms and, of course, as a Hungarian I wish to help my Slovak friends to reduce this disadvantage and make the Slovak language more audible, well-known and popular for a widest possible audience. That is the way to preserve as much as it is possible the rich and diverse Slovak language and culture. It is clearly in the interest of all of us.

At the same time the Slovak language does not wish to flourish at the detriment of other languages. It has no need to. It is incomprehensible, therefore, that the law regulating the use of languages of national minorities in Slovakia restricts the use these languages compared to that of the Slovak. It only allows rather than prescribes the use of minority languages. The use of minority languages cannot be interpreted as a claim right which can be demanded and enforced in official communication. There are no Hungarian-language documents available in government offices. There is no official Hungarian-language translation and edition of Slovak laws and regulations at all.  

This fairly disadvantageous situation has further deteriorated after the modification of the Slovak language law which entered into force in September. National minorities were not consulted on the new legislation.

The most important problem of the new legislation is that it regulates not only the official use of different languages but it goes deeply into public, business and even private life.

The other important problem is that the modified law stipulates punishment. It introduces the concept of linguistic misdemeanor against autochton minority languages. This is unacceptable. Moreover, it is not at all clear what the basis of such misdemeanor might be in specific cases. This can open the doors to governmental abuse. It is also deplorable from moral point of view because it gives an incentive to citizens to spy on each other and report each other to the authorities on the basis of real or perceived violations of the law. This arrangement will deteriorate public culture and undermine the democratic cohesion of society as well.

The Slovak government claims that the regulation in the law will be made more precise with executive ordinance. It has not happened to this day. There is no public debate on the planned specific regulation and the intention of the government is unknown. Once again, the government of Slovakia is unwilling to consult the parliamentary representatives of national minorities.

On this basis I feel that the modification of the Slovak language law violates basic human rights and norms of the European Union. Moreover, the law in its present form does not meet the interests of the Slovak state and the majority nation either. It creates suspicion and poisons the atmosphere among nations which have been living together for thousand years. It serves no interest of anybody in its present form.

Slovakia today is a mature, grown-up, self-assertive democracy. Slovakia does not need a kulturkampf, a legal protection against the  languages of national minorities. The autochton nations do not threaten the Slovak state, the Slovak nation and the Slovak language. On the contrary: peoples living side by side will enthusiastically protect, support and develop the Slovak language if the Slovak nation is willing to protect, support and develop the languages of national minorities as well.

I believe this is what corresponds most to the fundamental European ideal of "united in diversity".

Lajos Bokros, MEP
ECR, MDF

November 24, 2009

plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg  

 

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