Paris wants French to replace English as EU's "working language"

Paris is preparing for a plan to see English replaced with for French as the official “working language” of the European Union when it takes over the Council of the European Union presidency in 2022, a diplomat speaking to Politico revealed.

France planning to use its first presidency since Brexit to push its native tongue as the “lingua franca” of the European Union.

Officials stated they will conduct key meetings and working groups in French.

An EU diplomat told the Daily Telegraph that notes from these meetings will be taken in French and translations will not always be provided.

France will also fund free French language classes for diplomats who may wish to learn.

Clément Beaune, France's Europe minister, said in April: “Even though the French language is alive, flourishing, and its teaching is developing around the world, it is at home, within the European institutions, that it suffers.

“In the Commission, in the Council, in the agencies, bodies and administrations, meetings are now too often held in English.

"This has given rise to reports in English, even though this language is now no more than that of two Member States."

It is recalled that in February of this year, the Greek Foreign Ministry announced that they would adopt French as a second foreign language.

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