Europe and the Politics of Belonging

Abstract

Throughout this book, various aspects of language policy in Europe have been considered, ranging from EU policy towards official languages to the neglect of languages of non-European, migrant communities. This final chapter will set out an overall evaluation of EU language policy; beginning with the political question of Europe itself and then proceeding to the concept of ‘European languages’. The hierarchisation of languages within the EU has been a constant theme in the book and this final chapter will query the notion of equality and its implications for different categories of languages. In conclusion a series of recommendations will be proposed, which could address some of the anomalies and inequalities inherent in current EU policies and point the way towards a more equitable system.