14.9.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L 232/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) DECISION No 1934/2000/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 17 July 2000 on the European Year of Languages 2001 THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE (5)  The languages question is a challenge that must be EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular to Articles 149 and 150 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (3), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), Whereas: (1)  In the preamble to the Treaty, it is stated that the Member States are: ‘Determined to promote the develop- ment of the highest possible level of knowledge for their peoples through a wide access to education and through its continuous updating’. (2)  Article 18 of the Treaty establishes the right of every citizen of the European Union ‘to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States’. The ability to use foreign languages is essential in order in practice fully to exercise that right. (3)  Article 151 of the Treaty states that the Community shall contribute to the flowering of the cultures of the Member States while respecting their national and regional diversity, and shall take cultural aspects into account in its action under other provisions of the Treaty. Among the cultural aspects, matters pertaining to languages are of great importance. 4 All the European languages, in their spoken and written forms, are equal in value and dignity from the cultural point of view and form an integral part of European cultures and civilisation. () O] C 56 E, 29.2.2000, p. 62. () O] C 51, 23.2.2000, p. 53. (*) Opinion delivered on 17 February 2000 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 13 April 2000 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Council Decision of 8 June 2000. tackled as part of the European integration process and the European Year of Languages may therefore prove to be highly instructive as far as the formulation of meas- ures to encourage cultural and linguistic diversity is concerned. (6)  Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union states that the Union shall respect fundamental rights, as guaran- teed by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. (7)  Access to the vast literary heritage in the languages in which it was originally produced would contribute to developing mutual understanding and giving a tangible content to the concept of European citizenship. (8) It is important to learn languages as it enhances aware- ness of cultural diversity and helps eradicate xeno- phobia, racism, anti-Semitism and intolerance. (9)  In addition to the human, cultural and political advan- tages, learning languages is also of considerable potential economic benefit. (100 A command of the respective mother tongue and knowledge of the classical languages, in particular Latin and Greek, can make it easier to learn other languages. (11) It is important to raise awareness among public and private decision-makers of the importance of easy access to language learning facilities. (12)  The Council Conclusions of 12 June 1995 on linguistic diversity and multilingualism in the European Union emphasised that linguistic diversity must be preserved and multilingualism promoted in the Union, with equal respect for the languages of the Union and with due regard to the principle of subsidiarity. Decision No 2493[95/EC of the European Parliament and Council () of 23 October 1995 establishing 1996 as the ‘European Year of Lifelong Learning’ highlighted the importance of the role of lifelong learning in developing competencies, including linguistic, throughout an individual's lifetime. () O] L 256, 26.10.1995, p. 45.