Recognition of the Basque Language in EU Law: A Pending Issue?

Abstract

This paper provides an analysis of the European Union's linguistic legislation and of the effects of the Union's policy on the position of non-state languages.The European Union's construction process has followed a transfer of power from the Member States (and the Regions with legislative powers)to the EU institutions,which have their own legislative,administrative and judicial powers. The EU's impact on the situation of the languages is two-fold and regards the operability of integral plurilingualism applied with an excluding nature as regards non-state languages,and the exercising of the community freedoms of circulation and movement which disfavors non-state languages.