Cultural Policy of EU and Intercultural Contacts in Belgium

欧洲在很大程度上保留了其原始语言的多样性（部分来自拉丁语和古希腊语），这种多样性是从遥远的过去开始的文化发展过程的结果。欧洲语言的多样性当然是一个需要保护的宝藏。这本质上是一个在多样性背景下在欧盟创造相互尊重的普遍氛围的问题，即促进更好地理解欧洲特有的无数语言和文化细微差别，从而试图产生一种基于承认和团结的积极宽容精神。正是本着这种精神，欧盟提出了一些具体的建议，如何促进语言理解和宽容的精神，并鼓励语言教学在共同体。与其深入研究技术问题的可能解决方案，不如采取一些旨在本着自由和相互尊重的精神解决欧盟地理区域内语言问题的政治措施。本着这种精神，双语和多语虽然是欧洲的一个特征，但在很大程度上被忽视了，无论它们发生在哪里，无论是在地区，人群，或个人。这一新办法也将大大有助于缓和各语文组之间的紧张关系。此外，行政做法应考虑到跨国界的语言模式，并在制定培训方案时，为地理位置相近的语言留出适当的空间。

Europe has to a large extent retained the diversity of its original languages (derived in part from Latin and Ancient Greek), this diversity being the outcome of a process of cultural development that began in the distant past. The multiplicity of European languages is of course a treasure to be safeguarded. It is essentially a question of creating in the European Union a general atmosphere of mutual respect in a context of diversity, I.e. of fostering better understanding of the innumerable linguistic and cultural nuances that are specific to Europe, and thus attempt to produce a spirit of positive tolerance based on recognition and solidarity. It is in this spirit that some practical suggestions of the EU are put forward on how to promote a spirit of linguistic comprehension and tolerance, and encourage language teaching in the Community. Rather than delve into possible solutions to technical problems, it would be advisable to adopt a number of political measures aimed at settling linguistic problems within the EU geographical area in a spirit of freedom and mutual respect.In this spirit, bilingualism and multilingualism, while very much a feature in Europe, are largely ignored and should be given recognition wherever they occur, be it in regions, groups of people, or individuals. This new approach would also make a major contribution to easing tension between language groups. Furthermore, administrative practice should take cross-border linguistic patterns into account and, when training programmes are drawn up, leave a suitable amount of room for languages that are geographically close to each other.