Campaign for Welsh in Europe must move on to Commission

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 18th Jul 2008

Commenting on the news that Welsh will be used in can be used in dealings with the Council of Ministers and the Committee of the Regions,Welsh Lib Dem lead European candidate Alan Butt Philip, has urged campaigners not to give up their work.

Dr Butt Philip said: "I welcome the progress that has been made to ensure that Welsh can be used in the Council of Ministers and Committee of the Regions, but it would be wrong to see this as the end goal achieved. This announcement is a step in the right direction.

"The next step must be to put more pressure on the European Commission. Let's see if something similar can be done. The Commission needs to become more user friendly."

Notes:

Dr Alan Butt Philip is the #1 candidate for the Welsh Liberal Democrats for the 2009 European Parliamentary election.

Alan works as the Jean Monnet Reader in European Integration at the University of Bath.

He is the author of books including: The Welsh Question - Nationalism in Welsh Politics, Reforming the European Union and John Stuart Mill & Modern Liberalism.

He has acted as specialist adviser to the House of Lords and the European Parliament on policy issues, and has published widely on many European policy and decision making issues, including environmental policy.

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Contact/Cyswllt: Gareth Price 07976 898285