Government of the Dutch Province of Drenthe supports Minority SafePack Initiative

Yesterday 7 November, the government of the Dutch province of Drenthe, one of the 12 regions of the Netherlands, signed the Minority SafePack Initiative. With their support, the regional government responds to the request of the Huus van de Taol, EBLT (European Bureau for Small Languages in the Netherlands) and FUEN.

For the government of Drenthe it is important to increase the level of attention for protecting people who are speaking a regional or minority language at the European Union. In Drenthe, many people speak a dialect of Low Saxon called Drents.

According to Minister Cees Bijl, “the position of regional and minority languages in the Netherlands is reasonably well. In the cultural policy of the province of Drenthe, the promotion of the regional language of Drents plays an important role. This is not the case for minority languages within European policy. We want to show our solidarity and join the appeal to sign this petition.”

The government of the Province of Fryslân signed the Minority SafePack Initiative at the European Day of Languages on 26 September already.

Press release by the Province of Drenthe (Dutch)

Photo: Government of the Province of Drenthe