European Language Equality Network
| Abbreviation | ELEN |
|---|---|
| Established | 2011 |
| Legal status | non-governmental organization |
| Purpose | promotion of lesser-used languages in Europe |
| Location |
|
| Coordinates | 48°16′41″N 3°34′22″W / 48.27810°N 3.57290°W |
Region | Europe |
| Website | elen |
The European Language Equality Network (ELEN) is an international non-governmental organization that is active at the European level[1] which works to protect and promote European lesser-used languages (lesser-used languages), i.e. regional languages, minority languages, endangered languages, co-official languages and national languages of small nations. As of 2025, it currently lists 71 member organisations on its webpage, consisting of many language NGOs as well as academic institutions.[2]
History
[edit]ELEN was formed after the closure of EBLUL, European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages, a non-governmental organization with similar goals founded in 1982 and closed in 2010[3] The Secretary-General of ELEN has been Davyth Hicks since its foundation and its current president is Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones, elected in 2021.[4]
General Assembly
[edit]ELEN holds an annual general assembly in a different location each year. The most recent editions are:
2024: Bilbao, the Basque Country[5]
2023: Cagliari, Sardinia[6]
2022: Cardiff, Wales[7]
2021: Santiago de Compostela, Galicia[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "European Language Equality Network calls on the EU to levy sanctions against discrimination towards Catalan". Catalan News. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "Members". ELEN. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
- ^ Gál, Kinga; Hicks, Davyth (1 December 2010). "The European Parliament Intergroup for Traditional Minorities, National Communities and Languages, 2009–2014". Europäisches Journal für Minderheitenfragen. 3 (3): 236–250. doi:10.1007/s12241-010-0087-3. ISSN 1865-1097.
- ^ Ontwerpers, BW H. "Afûk » Elin Haf Gruffydd-Jones new president of ELEN". Afûk (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 April 2025.
- ^ "ELEN General Assembly 2024 - Euskalgintzaren Kontseilua". 15 July 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
- ^ "ELEN General Assembly 2023 – Arvéschida" (in Italian). Retrieved 18 April 2025.
- ^ "The ELEN network asks the French State not to persecute councils that allow full meetings to be addressed in Catalan | News of Plataforma per la Llengua". Plataforma per la Llengua. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
- ^ "IAITH attends the ELEN General Assembly | Iaith". www.iaith.cymru. Retrieved 18 April 2025.