The French Government refused on Wednesday (7th May) to ratify the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML) or to modify their constitution to allow for some recognition of the languages on its territories. A new law was proposed for regional languages, but any official status or usage was ruled out. France, however, may find that it has problems - it has ratified the Lisbon Treaty, which, if it comes into force, will require France to respect linguistic diversity and prohibit discrimination against languages and national minorities.

One of America’s most powerful business leaders, New York Comptroller William Thompson, will be among those attending a high profile conference on language, culture and economic growth in Belfast today. The one day conference brings together key Irish language entrepreneurs and international experts on regeneration, economics, and culture.

Diwan, the Breton immersion school organisation, celebrates its 30th birthday this weekend.  The anniversary was launched with Ar Redadeg, the sponsored run to support Diwan, setting off last night from Naoned (Nantes) in southern Brittany. The run ends on Saturday with a Breton festival in Karaez in central Brittany.

In the run up to French National Assembly’s debate regional languages and cultures on May 7th, language activists went to the UN at Geneva earlier this week to denounce France’s report on its implementation of the UN’s International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Belgium's language fuelled constitutional crisis has re-emerged with the federal government delaying a potential state splitting vote until next week.

Barcelona newspaper Avui reports that a recent survey finds only 20% of Catalans regularly read books in their own language.  The survey, which was carried out for the Associació d'Editors en Llengua Catalana, discovered an extensive ability to read Catalan - with up to 76% of adults surveyed reading Catalan occasionally compared to 96% in Spanish and 16% English.  However, the more powerful Spanish language wins out regarding regular reading habits with just 20% stating that they usually read books in Catalan rather than Spanish.