WRITTEN QUESTION No. 137/98 by Ilona GRAENITZ to the Commission. Recognition of sign language in the Member States
2. 10. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 304/37 The Commission is concurrently carrying on with its attempts to persuade the United States to ratify the OECD agreement, with the application of which is the main objective of the Community. Regarding the financial crisis in Asia, and its possible knock-on effects on the Korean shipbuilding industry, the Commission shares the Honourable Memberís disquiet and in collaboration with Member States is watching for any impact on the Community industry. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) plan which Korea has accepted, provides only for financial aid to stave off collapse of the financial and banking system and in no way provides for any allocation of funds to sectors of industry. Quite the reverse: the IMF authorities have pointed out that in no case should aid be used to save businesses in trouble. The structural reforms demanded by the IMF, and the drastic conditions imposed in terms of the prudential rules for lending by Korean banks, will undoubtedly preclude any repetition of the mistakes which encouraged Korean shipyards into ill-considered investments in capacity and caused some of them to become insolvent. In the course of the debate in the Council about future aid arrangements the Korean question was discussed at length, as were the risks to the Community industry resulting from devaluation of the won. Member States which are members of the IMF, and as such can affect its decisions, are fully aware of their duty to be vigilant in this field. For its part the Commission, which is not a member of the IMF, nevertheless keeps a careful eye on how the situation is developing. It will undoubtedly bring to the attention of the Council the risks of any use of aid which would be against the interests of the Community, particularly in shipbuilding. If necessary it could propose that Member States adopt a common position on this matter which would be forwarded to the IMF leadership with a view to forestalling this danger. (98/C 304/51) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0137/98 by Ilona Graenitz (PSE) to the Commission (23 January 1998) Subject: Recognition of sign language in the Member States Having regard to the EP resolution of 18 July 1988 (OJ C 187, p. 236), which called for official recognition of national sign languages in the Member States, and whereas the recognition of this non-ethnic language minority is a fundamental and important measure for the maintenance of culture, for the quality of life and, above all, for training opportunities for deaf people, I should like to know: 1. In which Member States has the national sign language actually been officially recognized or have comparable measures been taken? 2. Are those countries where this has still not occurred being supported in their efforts and, if so, in what way? 3. Is the Commission aware that, in the case of the deaf, this not only involves an issue affecting the ádisabledí but that what is involved here is a linguistic minority, which is still not recognized in many Member States 10 years after the EP resolution? 4. Is the Commission planning to submit to the Council urgently required proposals on this issue? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (5 March 1998) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to her oral question H-42/98 during question time at Parliamentís February 1998 part-session (1). (1) Debates of the Parliament (Februay 1998)