SPEECH/07/241

Leonard Orban

European Commissioner responsible for Multilingualism

'1001 Poems: Diversity of European

Poetry'

Bucharest Project

Bucharest, 20 April 2007

Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a real pleasure for me to be here today in my capacity as European
Commissioner for Multilingualism. First, because I am an ardent believer in cultural
diversity and this project is a brilliant example of this. Second, because I am an
admirer of the creative arts. Finally, and this goes without saying, because this
event takes place in Bucharest - and this can be ascribed to my condition of
European of Romanian descent.
I would like to thank the organisers for giving me the opportunity to share my vision
of the role of poetry and multilingualism in the EU with you.
Events like ‘1001 Poems’ show that the European integration process is not only a
common market and a set of rules for economic and political cooperation. Europe
can and must touch our citizens’ hearts and minds.
I accepted with pleasure to give my patronage to ‘1001 Poems – Diversity of
European Poetry’ because it is a project about bringing poetry from across Europe
to daily life. The whole city becomes a collection of poems!
But this project is more than just bringing beauty – here expressed as poetry - to
daily life. This project is about sharing pieces of art (poems) from different cultures
expressed in different languages but translated also into Romanian. It is thus about
poetry bringing the peoples of Europe closer through language and encouraging
intercultural dialogue.
Finally there is something else that I believe this project is about. I see it as a means
of encouraging language learning. Because only when reading poetry in the
language in which it was originally written can we really grasp the rhythm, the
sonority, the images… The soul of the piece. So I hope that this project will motivate
many Romanians to learn foreign languages.
In 1866, Vasile Alecsandri exclaimed: ‘A Romanian is born as a poet’.
Poetry and multilingualism are closely interlinked. Through poetry we get access to
the culture, the narrative and the traditions of people. Even in Romania’s darkest
years, no regime has managed to bring poetry to its knees. Culture and language
live on in poetry. From generation to generation. Poetry knows only the language of
free expression, and this is the cultural heritage that Romania brought into Europe.
Why is poetry important? Poetry, the essence of language, is a tool to maintain and
develop the diversity of European languages, one of Europe’s decisive assets.
Poetry is where you see language coming to life.
The importance of poetry for a multilingual society is often underestimated. Poetry
can be used as a means of integrating linguistic diversity. It can serve as a basis for
the ability to understand other languages without being fluent. Poetry works as an
appetizer if you want. Poetry has an important role to play in raising awareness of
other languages and cultures. It has a unique capacity to educate and entertain at
the same time, whatever our age, status or nationality. Poetry has a role in
promoting intercultural dialogue.
I would like to recall the motto ‘unity in diversity’. Today, with this project, the
different people of Europe can feel united through poetry, the best example of the
richness represented by linguistic diversity.

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The Europe that we wish for ourselves in the future is one that values the richness
of its languages and cultures. We must convey the message that the linguistic
variety of the Union is a strength of which we are particularly proud.
I would also like to underline that it is not possible to preserve our cultures without
preserving our languages and traditions. Language is an essential vector for the
transmission of our cultural heritage. It is therefore worth protecting and promoting

Ladies and gentlemen,

To face the challenges raised by an increasingly multicultural European society,
there is a pressing need to develop the intercultural skills of European citizens and
promote dialogue between cultures. Poetry travels across borders. It is thus a
means of promoting this dialogue.
Since, according to Vasile Alecsandri, Romanians are nature-born poets we should
be suited ambassadors of this intercultural dialogue.
I am therefore going to leave you with the words of a Romanian poet, Mihai
Eminescu, whose poem "Se bate miezul noptii…" has been selected for this
exhibition and who says a wonderful thing about language:
Se bate miezul noptii in
clopotul de-arama,
si somnul, vames vietii,
nu vrea sa-mi ieie vama.
Pe cai batute-adesea vrea
mintea sa ma poarte,
S-asaman intre-olalta
viata si cu moarte;
Ci cumpana gandirii-mi si
azi nu se mai schimba,
Caci intre amandoua sta
neclintita limba.
Thank you for your attention.