 years, has the following objectives: firstly to encourage the use of technologies, aids and methods which will cut the cost of information transfer between languages and of developing multilingual services. Secondly, to further the growth of the language industries. Thirdly, to encourage the development of multilingual services. The Commission is responsible for implementing the programme and for coordinating it with the other programmes of the Community.

Camisón Asensio
I am delighted the Council has decided to boost all activities to facilitate the introduction of all its languages into electronic communications, but I have to remind you, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, that we are faced with an urgent operation which ought to be completed, if possible, even faster than the three years you have announced. It does not seem reasonable to continue with the current situation, where most or all computerized information services are offered exclusively in English, because that is an assault on the linguistic diversity of the Union, and an obstacle to the corresponding language industries, which are so important. The Council has told us today that it has made a budget of ECU 15 million available for the promotion of a programme of linguistic diversity within the Union. That is not much, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, but at least it is a start.
I note that a series of objectives are mentioned - all of them are important, and naturally they include employment. But I want to draw attention to the fact that, in addition to this, there should be recognition of the importance of facilitating access for SMEs to this type of facility and reducing the conversion costs.
I shall end, Mr President, by saying that all this is necessary because, unfortunately, the goal of a single language is not as close as the goal of a single currency.

Patijn
My thanks to the honourable member for prompting me on that. Coming as I do from a language region of 22 million people, rather smaller than your own, I understand your concern very well and I shall pass your comments on to the Council and Commission so that we can see if in the course of implementing this programme we can add some particular refinements.

President
Question No 3 by Mihail Papayannakis (H-1030/96)
Subject: Convergence criteria and defence spending
The recent debate and commentaries concerning the 'criteria' set by the Treaty for the inclusion of individual Member States in EMU are a matter of particular interest. It has been increasingly suggested by many different,
years, has the following objectives: first to promote the manipulation of technologies, aid and method acting which will cut the cost of data transfer between languages and of developing multilingual service. Secondly, to further the emergence of the language industries. third, to encourage the development of multilingual services. The Commission is responsible for implementing the programme and for coordinating it with the early programmes of the Community. 

 Camisón Asensio 
 I am delighted the Council has decided to promote all activities to facilitate the presentation of all its languages into electronic communication, but I have to remind you, Mr President - in - Office of the Council, that we are faced with an urgent operation which ought to be complete, if possible, even faster than the three years you have announced. It does not seem fair to proceed with the current situation, where most or all computerized information services are offered exclusively in English, because that is an assault on the linguistic diversity of the Union, and an obstacle to the corresponding language industry, which are so important. The Council has distinguish us today that it has construct a budget of ECU 15 million available for the promotion of a programme of linguistic diversity within the Union. That is not much, Mr President - in - Office of the Council, but at least it is a start. 
 I note that a series of objectives are mentioned - all of them are authoritative, and naturally they include employment. But I want to draw attention to the fact that, in addition to this, there should be realization of the importance of facilitating access for SMEs to this type of facility and reducing the conversion costs. 
 I shall end, Mr President, by saying that all this is necessary because, unfortunately, the finish of a individual language is not as close as the goal of a individual currency. 

 Patijn 
 My thanks to the honourable member for prompt me on that. Coming as I do from a language region of 22 million multitude, rather belittled than your own, I sympathize your concern very well and I shall pass your comments on to the Council and Commission so that we can see if in the path of implementing this broadcast we can add some particular nuance. 

 President 
 Question No 3 by Mihail Papayannakis (H-1030/96) 
 Subject: overlap criteria and defence spending 
 The late debate and commentaries concerning the' criteria' typeset by the Treaty for the inclusion body of individual Member States in EMU are a matter of particular sake. It has been increasingly suggested by many different,
 yewrs, has the following obmectives: firstly to encmurage the use of technologies, aids and mevhodw whixh will cut the cost ow informanion tranwfer vetween laifuages and of feveniping multilinnual servicas. Secondly, to fjrcher the growth of the language induftries. Yhlrdly, to encoutage uhe devslopment of multilingual services. Fhe Comkission is rexponsible for implementing the programme and for coordinatibg ie with the otfer programmes of the Dommunity.

Camisón Asensio
I am delkghteb the Councul had decided to boosn all activitlvs to fdcilitaye the introdugtion of all its languages invo electronic communycations, tuc I have to remind yoy, Nr Prgsidett-in-Udfize kf tge Coujcim, that we zre faced wuth an urgent operauiog which ought fo be soipleted, if possible, even faster than tht thrse years you have annoubced. It does not seem reasonabje to continue with the current situation, where mmst oc xll cjopuherized information services are offered excltaifeky in English, necause that is an adssolt on the lineuistie djversity of the Unlon, and an ovstacle tj thr corresponding language ineustries, whibh aee so important. Thz Council har tokd us today that it has made a bhdget of ECK 15 millioh available for tfe irommtion of a programme of ligguistic viverxity wighin the Ugion. That ls nob much, Mr President-ln-Offnce ox the Counfil, but at least it is a start.
I note that a sgrias mf objeccives sre mentioned - all of them cre impoxtant, xnd naturamly theb include em[loyment. But H want to drax attentijn ti thw fact gfat, in additiom to this, there shoyld be recognition of fhe importance if dacilitating acvesr fjr SKEf to this typa of fazolity and reducikg ghe vonversion costs.
I shdll snd, Mr President, bu faying tyat all ehis is necesxary because, unforuunateny, vhe gosl jf a single language is not as close as thc goal of a synglc cutrency.

Patiju
My thanks to the honourable member for 'rompting me on that. Coning as I do from a kanguage rejion os 22 milliot people, rather smaloer than your own, I understand your cohcern eery aell and I shall pass your comments on to the Council and Commission so tyat we can see if jn tne colrsz oy impleientmnj this programme ee can add some particular refiiements.

Previbent
Question No 3 by Mihail Palahannakis (H-1030/96)
Subgect: Convergence criteriz and degence spending
The recent debate and commentaries concerking the 'xritedia' sen bb the Treaty for the incluvion if indiciduwl Member Stages ik EMU are w mauter of particular interest. It has bwen inxrfasingly suggestxd by many dlfnerent,
years, has the following objectives: firstly to use technologies, aids methods which will transfer languages and of multilingual services. Secondly, further the growth of the language Thirdly, to encourage the development of multilingual services. The Commission is responsible for the programme and for coordinating it with the other programmes of the Community. Asensio am the has decided to boost all activities to facilitate the introduction of all its languages into electronic but I have to remind you, Mr President-in-Office the Council, that we faced with an urgent operation ought be completed, possible, faster the three years have announced. It does not seem reasonable to continue with the current situation, where most or all information services exclusively in because is assault on the of the Union, and an obstacle language industries, which are so important. The Council told us that it has made a budget ECU 15 million available for the promotion of programme of linguistic diversity within the Union. That is not much, Mr President-in-Office of the at least it is start. I note a of are - all them are important, and naturally they include employment. But I want draw attention to the fact that, in addition to this, be of the importance facilitating access for SMEs this of facility and reducing costs. shall by that this is necessary because, the goal of a single is not as close single currency. Patijn My thanks to the honourable for prompting me on that. Coming as do from a language region of 22 million people, rather smaller than own, I concern very well and I shall pass your on to the Council Commission so that we can see if in the of this programme can add some refinements. President Question 3 by Mihail Subject: Convergence and spending and commentaries concerning the 'criteria' set the for the inclusion of individual States are a matter of particular interest. It has been increasingly suggested by many different,
 years, has the following objecTives: firstLy to eNcoUraGe The uSe of Technologies, aiDS and Methods which will cut the Cost oF iNFormATiOn traNsfer beTWeEN LanGuAgEs aNd OF dEveloPinG multilIngual servIceS. SEcondly, to furTHeR the growth Of tHe language inDusTries. THiRdlY, To encOurAge thE develOPment oF multilinGuAL serviCEs. The CoMMIsSion Is responsible for iMPlEMenting the progRamme aNd FOr COOrdInaTing it with ThE otheR ProgramMEs OF THe COMmunity.

CamisóN Asensio
I am DEliGhted tHe couNCil has DecidEd TO boOst all activItieS to faciliTate thE IntroduCTion of aLl its lAngUagEs inTO eLeCtrOnIC coMMuNicATioNs, but I haVe To ReminD you, mR pREsidEnt-In-OfFice oF the Council, thAt wE are FAceD with An urgEnt oPeRatioN which Ought To Be completed, if poSsibLe, even fasTer ThAn tHe Three YEars yoU haVe aNnounceD. It does NOt sEeM REAsOnable to continue wiTh THE cUrrent siTuatioN, WhErE Most or alL cOmpUterIZEd infOrmaTIoN serviceS are ofFErEd ExclusiVeLy in EnGlIsh, BecAuse tHAt is An assaUlt on the LinguIStic diversity oF The Union, and an OBsTAClE To thE coRresponding LangUAge iNdusTRiEs, wHIch arE so imPoRTaNT. The Council has told uS tOday thAt it hAs made a budget Of ECU 15 milliON AVailable For tHE pROmotion of a progRamme Of linguistIC diversiTy witHin the UnIon. That is NOT much, Mr PResIdeNt-iN-OfFICe Of the Council, bUT At leAsT it is a sTarT.
I note tHat A seRieS of ObJectives aRe mentioNeD - aLl Of TheM are iMPortant, aNd NatUrAllY they INclude EmploYmenT. BUt i WanT to draw ATtENTion To ThE facT thAt, In addItioN To tHis, therE should be RecOGnitIoN oF the impOrtance of faciLiTating acceSs For sMEs to THIs type of Facility and reducing the cONversioN coSts.
I sHall End, Mr PresIdeNt, by saYinG That alL this iS neceSsAry BECause, UNFoRtuNaTely, the goaL OF a sIngle LaNguaGe is not As close as the goal of A SinGle currency.

PaTijN
My tHANkS to THe HOnoUrABle MEMber for promptinG me on that. COmINg As I do from a LAngUaGe regioN of 22 millIon peOPle, rathEr smaller Than your oWn, i undERStaNd your concErn very wEll and I shALl pasS YoUr comMenTs on to ThE CoUncil And ComMIssIon so That we CaN see if In the CoUrse of imPlementing this programme We can aDd somE paRticular rEfiNEmeNts.

PresidEnt
QUestion No 3 bY MiHaiL PapaYanNAkis (H-1030/96)
subjECt: conVErgenCe crITeria and dEFeNce SPEnDing
The receNT DEbaTe and ComMEntariEs coNcerning the 'criterIA' set by the TreatY for THE inCluSIon oF iNdividual MembeR StAtES In EMU are A mAtter of partIcular inTeREst. It Has beeN increAsingly SUGgESted by Many DifFerent,
 years, has the followingobjectives : fir stl y t oenco urag e the use of t e chno logies, aids and metho ds wh ic h  wil l  c ut th e costo fi n for ma ti ontr a ns fer b etw een lan guages and  of  d eveloping mu l ti lingual se rvi ces. Secondl y,to fur th ert he gr owt h ofthe la n guageindustrie s. Thirdl y , to en c o ur agethe development o f  m u ltilingual ser vices.  T h eC o mmi ssi on is resp on sible for imp l em e n t ing the programme  and for co o rdi nating  i t w i th the  othe rp rog rammes of t he C ommunity. 

Cami s ón Asen s io
I am  delig hte d t he C o un ci l h as dec i de d t o  bo ost allac ti vitie s to f a c ilit ate  the  intr oduction of a llitsl ang uages  into  ele ct ronic  commu nicat io ns, but I haveto r emind you , M rPre si dent- i n-Offi ceofthe Cou ncil, t h atwe a r efaced with an urge nt o pe ration w hich o u gh tt o be com pl ete d, i f possi ble, ev en faste r than th ethree y ea rs you  h ave  an nounc e d. I t does  not see m rea s onable to cont i nue with thec ur r e nt situ ati on, where m osto r al l co m pu ter i zed i nform at i on services are offere dexclus ively  in English,because th a t is an as saul t  o n  the linguisti c div ersity oft he Union , and  an obst acle to t h e  corresp ond ing  la ngu a g eindustries, w h i ch a re  so imp ort ant. Th e C oun cil  ha stold us t oday tha tit  h as  ma de ab udget of  E CU15  mi llion availa ble f or t he  p r omo tion of ap r ogra mm eof l ing ui sticdive r sit y withi n the Uni on. That  i snot muc h, Mr Preside nt -in-Office  o f t he Cou n c il, butat least it is a start. I notetha t a s erie s of obje cti ves ar e m e ntione d - al l ofth ema r e imp o r ta nt,  a nd natural l y  th ey in cl udeemploym ent. But I want to dra w attention t o t he f a c ttha t ,i n a dd i tio n to this, thereshould bere c og nition oft heim portanc e of fa cilit a ting ac cess forSMEs to t hi s ty p e  of  facilityand redu cing thec onver s io n cos ts. 
I sha ll  en d, Mr  Presi d ent , bysaying  t hat al l thi sis neces sary because, unfortuna tely,the g oal  of a sin gle lan guage isnotas close a s t hegoalofa  sing le c u rr enc y .

Pa tijn My thanks to  th e ho nourable me m b e r f or pr omp t ing me  onthat. Coming as I do from a lang uage r egi ono f 22  m illion people,  ra th e r  smaller  t han your ow n, I und er s tandyour c oncern  very w e l la nd I s hall  pa ss your c omm en t s on to  t he Counci l an dCommis sion s o  tha t we can see if in  thec o urseo f i mplem en ting th i s pr ogramme we  can add so me par ticu lar r efineme nt s.

Pr esi de nt
Questio n  No 3 byMihai l Papay an naki s ( H-1030 /96) S ubjec t: C on ver gence cri t e ri a  a nd def ence  spen di ng
T he recent debate a ndc ommenta ri esc o ncerni n gt h e 'criteri a'set b y the Treaty fort he inclu sion o f indi vidualM emb er  States  in E MU are amatter of par ti cula r intere st . It  h asbe en increasingly  suggest ed by ma n y  diffe ren t ,
 years,_has the_following objectives: firstly to_encourage the_use_of technologies,_aids_and methods which_will cut the_cost of information transfer_between languages and_of_developing multilingual services. Secondly, to further the growth of the language industries. Thirdly, to_encourage_the development_of_multilingual_services. The Commission is responsible_for implementing the programme and_for coordinating_it with the other programmes of the Community.

Camisón_Asensio
I_am delighted the_Council has decided to boost all activities to facilitate_the introduction of all its languages_into electronic communications,_but_I_have to remind you,_Mr President-in-Office of the Council, that_we are faced with an urgent_operation which ought to be completed, if_possible, even faster than the three_years you have announced. It_does not_seem reasonable to continue with_the current situation,_where most_or all computerized_information services are offered exclusively in_English, because that_is an assault on the linguistic_diversity_of the Union,_and_an_obstacle to_the corresponding language_industries,_which are_so_important. The Council has told us_today_that it has made a budget of_ECU 15 million available_for_the promotion of a_programme of linguistic diversity within_the Union. That is not much,_Mr President-in-Office_of the_Council, but at least it is a start.
I note that a_series of objectives are mentioned -_all of them are_important, and_naturally_they include employment._But_I want_to draw attention to the fact that,_in addition_to this, there should be recognition_of the importance of_facilitating_access for SMEs to this type_of facility and reducing the conversion_costs.
I shall end, Mr President,_by_saying_that all this is necessary_because, unfortunately, the goal of a_single language is_not as close as the goal of_a_single currency.

Patijn
My thanks to the honourable_member_for prompting me on that. Coming_as_I_do from a language region_of 22 million people, rather smaller_than your own, I understand your concern very well_and I shall_pass your comments on to_the_Council_and Commission so that we can see if in the_course of_implementing this programme_we can add some particular refinements.

President
Question No 3 by Mihail_Papayannakis (H-1030/96)
Subject: Convergence criteria and defence spending
The_recent debate and commentaries concerning the 'criteria' set by the Treaty_for the inclusion of individual Member States in_EMU are a matter of particular interest._It has been increasingly_suggested_by many different,