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Scottish Gaelic used first time ever in the European Council
12/05/2010
NEWS IN BRIEF. Mike Russell, minister of the Scottish government, represented the UK in the Education, Youth and Culture Council.
Scottish Gaelic has made this week and historic and symbolic step towards its recognition. The minister for education of the Scottish government, Mike Russell, adressed the Council of ministers of education and culture in that language, spoken by around 66,000 people in western Scotland and the islands.
Likewise Catalan, Basque, Galician and Welsh, Scottish Gaelic does not have official status in the European Union but is granted some degree of recognition. Citizens are entitled to address the European Council and be responded in these languages. However, the Catalan organization Horitzó Europa warned a few days ago that European institutions "ignore Catalan", despite it's been 5 years since first agreements allowing the use non-state languages were signed.
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