Languages & Culture
Reding: ‘Endangered languages could be saved by the internet’
Internet platforms have helped the internet to become more multilingual, and especially less widely spoken languages like Luxembourgish, Viviane Reding told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
British Council boss: Brexit won’t change the way we help the world
The British Council will continue to do the work it has always done, despite Brexit, and its priorities in areas like Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East remain as important as ever, said the organisation’s CEO in a wide-ranging interview.
Bulgarian President: I may be a general, but I don’t like warlike rhetoric
In a wide-ranging interview, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, whose country takes over the EU's rotating six-month Presidency in January, discussed European policies, the upcoming Bulgarian Presidency, and his contradictions with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.
Ukraine ambassador: Hybrid war is not only in Ukraine, it’s across Europe
In a wide-ranging interview, Ukraine's Ambassador to the EU, Mykola Tochytskyi, discussed his country’s EU agenda, the upcoming Eastern Partnership summit, the sensitive relations with Russia and the new language law which has antagonised Hungary.
Minister: Multiculturalism flourishes in Kazakhstan
Yerzhan Ashikbayev, Kazakhstan's deputy foreign minister, spoke to EURACTIV.com about nuclear disarmament, relations with the big powers and his country’s example when it comes to multiculturalism.
Berlin’s March for Europe celebrates Erasmus and ‘peace in our time’
Thousands of people across Europe marched in support of the EU this weekend. In Berlin, EURACTIV's partner treffpunkteuropa interviewed some of the people that hit the streets.
Belgian mayor: ‘Discrimination and racism is anti-western’
Bart Somers is an anomaly: A well-liked Belgian mayor of international standing, who built his reputation on promoting diversity. Mechelen told EURACTIV Slovakia the secrets to his success, and why tolerance is a positive social value
La Stampa: Exchanging journalists could reignite faith in EU
The economic crisis brought about a general malaise and Europe was used as a scapegoat, says Italian newspaper La Stampa's Marco Zatterin. However, exchange programmes for media professionals could be the key to revitalising EU reporting.
BuzzFeed editor: Brexit calls for European media cooperation
BuzzFeed UK Europe Editor Alberto Nardelli advocates for more translation and localisation of media content, as well as more cooperation to balance out the often biased English-speaking press.
Wagenknecht: Merkel ‘gave the AfD their breakthrough’
One of the German Left's most prominent politicians hit out at Angela Merkel following the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party's election success, in an interview with EURACTIV's partner, Der Tagesspiegel.
German women more anti-Muslim than men
German concerns about the country’s Muslim population are growing, especially among women. Researcher Daniela Krause spoke to EURACTIV Germany about the issue, the anti-Muslim course of the AfD party and possible ways to reverse the trend.
Language technologist: Europe needs a language infrastructure, not just Google Translate
Europe's language industry has lost ground to American technology companies. But it still has a chance to offer better services, says Jochen Hummel.
Language entrepreneur: Smaller languages could be lost in the Digital Single Market
Opening borders may undermine smaller languages, unless research initiatives support making translation more competitive, says Andrejs Vasiljevs.
EU literature prize winners: Winning is an honour, but surreal
SPECIAL REPORT / In a "very tough market" for books, winning a prize can make a huge difference and open the door for international recognition, say this year's winners of the EU's Prize for Literature.
Lucas Belvaux: ‘This copyright reform will impoverish culture’
The planned reform of EU copyright law has caused a wave of protest among rights holders, who fear the financing of the whole cultural sector will be put at risk.
Tintin writer: ‘Copyright has always been a battle’
For Benoît Peeters, copyright is a constant battle. The comics writer told EURACTIV France how the system feeds authors’ creativity over the long term, whilst allowing them to retain moral authority over their work.
Carole Tongue: ‘Funding for creative works is under threat in the digital age’
The European Commission is working on proposals to reform EU copyright law, leading some to fear for the protection of authors' rights and the future funding of the creative industries. Carole Tongue explains EURACTIV that a new association of European coalitions for cultural diversity will work to protect culture and copyrights in the EU.
Navracsics: The ‘European literature prize can seal the gap between Western Europe and Eastern Europe’
SPECIAL REPORT: In November, 13 fiction writers received the 2014 European Union Prize for Literature. Best-known for having served in the government of Viktor Orbán, EURACTIV spoke to Commissioner Tibor Navracsics about the significance of this year’s awards, and what they personally mean to him, as a Hungarian.
Smilevski: Adolfina is a metaphor for the people that are forgotten
?SPECIAL REPORT: "Historiography is obsessed with the rulers, men of power and influential people, while the memories about ordinary people die with those that have known them," says Goce Smilevski, about his decision to write a novel about Sigmund Freud's sister, Adolfina.
Dobbs: Eurozone drama can turn into ‘House of Cards’
Europe is a great story to tell, but often marred by institutional jumble. The Eurozone crisis could be told in such a way that it would spark the imagination of Europeans, on what the EU is all about, says Michael Dobbs, author of the critically-acclaimed Netflix series House of Cards, in an exclusive interview with EURACTIV.
Lux award finalist: The EU needs to better protect its culture, cinema
Culture, including cinema, is perhaps more central to the identity of Europeans than that of any other people, so the EU must do more to protect it, says Valeria Golino.
UNESCO envoy: Cultural action is key for Mali’s reconstruction
Culture is essential to a sustainable recovery in Mali, Lazare Eloundou, the UNESCO envoy to Mali’s donor conference held on 15 May, told EURACTIV in an interview.
Francois Alfonsi MEP: ‘The loss of a language is always deliberate’
Languages would not disappear without a deliberate policy to marginalise them, says François Alfonsi, a Corsican MEP who has drafted a parliamentary report on endangered languages to be voted in June. For him, the EU has a role to play in protecting what he describes as “a European heritage”.