Agius Saliba slams removal of Maltese language course for EU institution employees
In a letter addressed to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Ales Agius Saliba expresses concern after being informed that the Maltese course would not be offered this year due to a low number of applicants
4 March 2025, 11:06am
Matthew Farrugia
Matthew Farrugia
1 min read
MEP Alex Agius Saliba has called on the European Commission to reverse its decision to cancel a Maltese language course for employees of EU institutions.
In a letter addressed to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Agius Saliba expressed concern after being informed that the Maltese course would not be offered this year due to a low number of applicants. Only four employees had signed up for the course, prompting its cancellation.
“It is unacceptable that the Maltese language is treated as second-class when it is an official language of the Union, equal to all other languages,” the PL MEP wrote.
He insisted that the Commission must ensure equal treatment of all EU official languages and urged for the immediate reinstatement of the course. Despite the low number of applicants, Agius Saliba stressed that denying them access to the course would undermine the status of Maltese within the EU institutions.
Agius Saliba's defence of the Maltese language in EU institutions is reminiscent of the now-famous outburst of former Prime Minister and MEP Joseph Muscat, who had refused to address the European Parliament after he was told that there were no Maltese translators available on that day.
The European Commission has yet to respond to Agius Saliba's request.
Matthew Farrugia is a staff reporter at MaltaToday
