The Ukrainian language can receive an official status in the European Union if the initiative is supported by the leading scientific language institutes. This was announced on Friday, January 22nd, by the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language in Ukraine Taras Kremin.
He added that this will strengthen the country’s position in the international arena.
“We are currently negotiating with the European Association of Language Institutions so that Ukraine will receive associate membership by the end of this year.” – said Kremin in an interview with the Strana.ua portal.
According to him, by January 22, almost 190 complaints were sent to his email address about violation of the law of Ukraine on ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language. Most of the requests came from Kiev, violations were noticed on signs, price tags and on the websites of online stores.
From January 16 in Ukraine, employees of supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, sports clubs, hairdressers and other service establishments were obliged to serve visitors only in Ukrainian, since the requirement of the relevant article of the law “On ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language” came into force.
In April 2019, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the final reading the law “On ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language.” The document provided for the creation of a special “language commission”, which will monitor compliance with the law. The same law proposed to introduce exams for officials that determine the level of knowledge of the Ukrainian language, and to fine for violation of the law.