On the picture HE Mme Michaëlle Jean Secretary-General of La Francophonie.
By Jure Kralj.
Thursday, 11 February 2016, Press Club, Brussels: The initiative comes as a response to a dwindling use of the French language in European institutions, and in particular in press communications and documents made available to journalists.
The opening event was opened by the Secretary-General of La Francophonie, HE Mme Michaëlle Jean accompanied by La Francophonie’s Permanent Representative to the EU, HE Ambassador Dr. Stéphane López. Other prominent speakers included the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, or French bilateral ambassador to Belgium, HE Ambassador Claude-France Arnould.
Amongst the prominent attendees were the US Head of Mission to the EU, HE Ambassador Anthony L. Gardner (himself a Francophone), the Permanent Representatives of France to the EU, HE Ambassador Pierre Sellal as well as a plethora of ambassadors from the countries members of La Francophonie.
The President of the European Commission stressed the cultural dimension of languages, transcending aspects pertaining purely to the transfer of information, and has stated that spokespersons were given instructions concerning the use of the three working languages of the European Union.
For more information
La Francophonie and its permanent representations: http://www.francophonie.org/Representations-permanentes.html
Permanent Representation of La Francophonie to the EU (HE Ambassador Dr. Stéphane López): http://www.francophonie.org/inauguration-Club-presse-francophone-Bruxelles-46717.html
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Pictures by French Embassy to the Kingdom of Belgium
