On March 21 Ukraine was unanimously granted the status of an associate member of the European Federation of National Institutions for Language (EFNIL) by its General Assembly at the extraordinary meeting.
"Today the front of the struggle for Ukraine is also the front of affirmation of the Ukrainian language. Therefore, it is a great honor for us to join the continental family of language institutions. After all, EFNIL membership will give Ukraine an opportunity to form a strategy for the legislative protection of the Ukrainian language as the future EU language. At this difficult time for Ukraine, the support of Europe’s leading language institutions - our international partners - is very important for us", – the State Language Protection Commissioner of Ukraine Taras Kremin announced upon joining the event.
The President of EFNIL Sabina Kirchmeier welcomed Ukraine’s accession to the EFNIL family, noting the importance of this step at the historical time for the country and Europe. She expressed hope for deepening relations between the Secretariat of the Commissioner and EFNIL member organizations in order to develop the main objectives of the institution.
According to Taras Kremin, the struggle for language is also a struggle for the self-identity of the Ukrainian nation. "Therefore, conscious switching of our fellow citizens to Ukrainian, effective protection of the information field, comprehensive development of the language is the protection of national interests, resistance to the aggressor nation and the struggle for our independence," – Taras Kremin said.
Speaking at the EFNIL General Assembly, which was attended by heads of national language institutions from Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Slovenia, Hungary, Iceland, Germany, Great Britain, Finland, Belgium, France, Norway, Italy, Greece, Romania, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the Commissioner informed the European partners about the genocide policy pursued by the kremlin. Therefore, Moscow does not stop short at the linguocide as well. "Thus, in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which have been just occupied by the Russian troops, enemies continue the policy of de-Ukrainization. Announcing the resumption of the educational process in schools, the occupiers emphasize that such subjects as "Ukrainian Language", "Ukrainian Literature" and "History of Ukraine" will not be studied".
EFNIL unites the national language institutions of the EU and non-EU countries. The main tasks are to monitor the implementation of language legislation, to protect the state languages, to collect materials on language policy in the EU, to encourage the learning of official European languages for linguistic and cultural diversity in the EU. Since his appointment, the Commissioner Taras Kremin has met with many heads of European language institutions, participated in EFNIL plenary sessions and promoted positive experiences in the implementation of European language legislation in Ukraine.