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France plots an EU presidency en français, s’il vous plaît (Politico)

Meetings in French. Notes in French. Debates in French. More French classes for EU civil servants. If a letter arrives from the European Commission in English, it will go unanswered — le français est nécessaire | Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Forget Euro English. Forget Globish. France is determined to make 2022 the year of the French language. 

Ah, je m’excuse : l’année de la langue française

Seven months before taking over the EU’s rotating Council presidency, the French government is mulling plans to revive the declining use and visibility of la langue de Molière

The French government is earmarking money to offer more French classes to EU civil servants. Officials are contemplating hosting French-language debates featuring the country’s crème de la crème.

And then there are the meetings. 

During the country’s presidency, French diplomats said all key meetings of the Council of the EU will be conducted in French (with translations available). Notes and minutes will be French-first. Even preparatory meetings will be conducted in French. 

If a letter arrives from the European Commission in English, it will go unanswered — Le français est nécessaire.

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