From 20 to 22 September 2024, the European Union of the Deaf (EUD) held its latest Board meeting in Budapest, Hungary. The decision to convene in Budapest aligned with Hungary’s current Presidency of the Council of the European Union, part of the EU’s rotating presidency system. The EUD took this opportunity hold a high-level meeting with Dr Adam Kósa, Hungary’s newly appointed State Secretary for Disability. Dr Kósa, a former Member of the European Parliament (MEP), holds the distinction of being the first-ever Deaf person elected to the European Parliament, where he successfully completed three mandates.
The purpose of the meeting was to present EUD’s position and Hungary’s endorsement on a groundbreaking position: the official recognition of the 29 EU National Sign Languages as official languages of the European Union, alongside the 24 currently recognised spoken languages. This move, if realised, would empower deaf people across the EU to use their national sign language in official EU interactions, including imparting information, contributing to the work of European institutions, and engaging with the EU in their preferred languages.
Although all 29 national sign languages have been recognised at the national level by the respective EU Member States, the EU has yet to officially recognise them. EUD highlighted that this delay remains inconsistent with the EU’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which the EU has ratified in 2010.
The EUD extends its heartfelt thanks to Dr Adam Kósa for his time, availability, and unfettered support for the deaf community and the work of the EUD. His continued commitment to promoting the rights and inclusion of deaf people aligns with our mission to ensure full equality and participation through national sign languages within the European Union.
