| The Assembly, |
| 1. Drawing attention to the significant fact thatEurope has
developed as a cultural unity based on a diversity of interconnected languages,
literary and cultural traditions ; |
| 2. Recalling that language is not only a means of communication,
but essentially a necessary way for countries and regions to maintain their
identity and personality, and also a creative art, and thereby abasic medium
of cultural expression of individuals and communities ; |
| 3. Wishing to ensure the survival and continued creative
richness of the European linguistic and literary heritage ; |
| 4. Recalling earlier Council of Europe action relating to
books, libraries and modern languages in Europe ; |
| 5. Aware, however, of the new challenges andpossible threats
posed for many European languages by the rapid industrialisation of natural
languages and the increased commercialisation of language products, as
a consequence of the growing interface between these natural languages
on the one hand and informatics and electronics on the other ; |
| 6. Concerned also at the prospect of a more general decline
in literacy in Europe as a result of increased reliance on the audiovisual
as a means of communication ; |
| 7. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers : |
|
a. defend and encourage multilingualism inEurope, both
in written material (whether in book or other form) and the audiovisual
media ;
|
|
b. take active steps to safeguard Europe'slinguistic and
literary heritage, and encourage its continued creative development ;
|
|
c. encourage reading in Europe, while also combating illiteracy ;
|
|
d. urge the governments of member states to support through
appropriate measures the development of the language industries with
due respect for Europe's linguistic diversity ;
|
|
e. initiate specific projects to further European co-operation
in these fields.
|
