In Brussels, Zupiria claims the official status of the Basque language in an increasingly multilingual Europe

• The Minister for Culture and Language Policy deposited the Azkue dictionary at the Museum of the History of Europe in Brussels at an event organised by the European Parliament
• Zupiria was proud that in the European institutions “Basque has a place, and a Basque dictionary is received and exhibited. In the heart of Europe, and open to the world .”

In Brussels, today, the Minister for Culture and Language Policy and spokesperson for the Basque Government, Bingen Zupiria, took part as a guest and speaker, in an act of recognition for the Minority Languages of Europe and their linguistic communities, organised by the European Parliament. The event was held at the House of the History of Europe and was promoted by the European Parliament's Intergroup of Minorities on the occasion of the European Day of Languages. Representatives of different minority languages participated in the event, which consisted of the delivery of the dictionaries of minority languages in the House of the History of Europe for its exhibition. 

Counsellor Zupiria took the Basque-Spanish-French Dictionary/Dictionnaire basque-espanol-français of Resurrection, María de Azkue to Brussels. The Lekeitio linguist and priest published the dictionary in 1905. Minister Zupiria explained that the choice of this work for delivery to the House of European History is closely linked to the history of the revitalisation of the Basque language and the demand for a multilingual Europe. The Minister for Culture and Language Policy, in addition to expressing his gratitude, expressed deep pride and emotion, because “Basque has a place, and a dictionary is received and exhibited” in the European institutions, “at the heart of Europe, and open to the world”. 

The Minister for Culture and Language Policy gave a lecture at the House of European History in which he stressed that Basque “is a language that has managed to live and endure” together with the great and hegemonic languages of the world and that “we are a linguistic community that has managed to adapt to the needs and ways of each era”. He added that all social groups, public bodies and citizens working for the normalisation of Basque “seek a consensus of coexistence between languages”. 

Revitalisation and official status of the Basque language 

The Minister for Culture and Language Policy recalled the work done in the revitalisation of the Basque language and the positive and rapid evolution of the Basque language since the 20th century. In the last four decades, the number and percentage of Basque speakers in the Basque Country has doubled, from 450,000 to 940,000 (from 21% of the population in 1981 to 43% today). In the 1980s, Basque speakers were mostly older people, and they had learned Basque at home. Currently, Basque is a young language; young people are the ones who know the most Basque and half mainly learn it at school.  Zupiria explained that behind this evolution is “the optimistic attitude of society in favour of promoting the Basque language, the work done by the educational system, and the adoption of the Basque language and culture by adults.” The Minister for Culture and Language Policy also highlighted the main milestones in the revitalisation of Basque in the 20th century, such as the Basque language and literacy of adults, the flourishing of Basque cultural production, the creation and development of media and audiovisual content in Basque and the Basque Law of 1982 that regulated the linguistic rights of citizens and the obligations of the public authorities. 

In his appearance in Brussels, Zupiria also showed his emotion, and stressed that Basque is “a differentiated way of being and acting as an individual and as a people.” “Our ancestors have brought Basque to us for centuries; and we, in the same way, feel that we are the links of transmission to future generations. Basque is an essential pillar of our identity as individuals and as a people. With that responsibility, respect and commitment, we live Basque. That is what moves many of us,” he added. 

The Minister has also claimed the Basque language as an instrument for coexistence and the construction of a more inclusive, inclusive and cohesive society: “Because Basque is not only the language of those who have received it at home, but also a language open to all of us who make up our society, which unites us all and makes us members of the same human group.” He stressed that Basque is also an element to build a differentiated socio-cultural and economic community, the main axis that helps the Basque Country to have its own model. “In this globalised and post-modern 21st century, where we interact not only in our territorial environment but also in the digital environment, speakers from all over the world have approached our territory and our socio-political and economic relations extend all over the world. Our socio-political commitments are open to the world. Our goal is coexistence that is open to global diversity and based on respect for diversity and equity.” 

The Minister for Culture and Language Policy and spokesperson for the Basque Government thus claimed the dream that Basque is also an official language in Europe: “We are part of Europe's own diversity. We are an example, model and exponent of this diversity. We are fervent Europeans and pro-Europeans and we would like to equate our language with other European languages.”  In addition, Counsellor Zupiria called for linguistic diversity and showed his concern for the impact of an increasingly globalised world on languages: “Linguists affirm that half of the 7,000 languages that exist in this globalised world are in danger of or in the process of disappearing. Languages with a small number of speakers and a small socio-economic reality are doomed to disappear. We also run the risk of Europe's linguistic and cultural diversity becoming increasingly homogeneous. In many states of Europe, the English we use for international relations is gradually acquiring a place also as a language of relationship and work. Undoubtedly, this language facilitates communication and helps us build bridges. The challenge and responsibility of our generation is to make this reality compatible with the protection and care of diversity. Both the larger languages with many speakers and the smaller ones with few speakers.”    

Minister Zupiria stated that the historical path taken in favour of Basque has shown that advancing in diversity is “the most effective way to face the challenges of the future,” and claimed that “in the field of coexistence between languages and attention to situations of inferiority, to bet on a multicultural and multilingual Europe is to accept and manage diversity. Value each unique identity and show polychromy as a positive value. Multicultural and multilingual Europe is an ideal space for the construction and strengthening of our identity, and we will promote policies in favour of such a Europe in collaboration with institutions and social agents. In contact with small and large linguistic communities. To build a more democratic, sustainable and prosperous Europe.”