Some aspects of the regulatory environment in the EU multilingualism policy and in multinational Kazakhstan

Abstract

Multilingualism and ethnic diversity are becoming an integral part of any integration entity, such as the European Union or any geographic region with a large ethnic composition and different cultural traditions. Integration of entire regions, international mobility and migration of the population lead to the adoption of policies aimed at the formation of a multicultural society. The globalization and the abolition of borders increase the risks of conflicts on national, ethnic and linguistic grounds. For the multinational region of Central Asia, the experience of such a multilingual organization as the European Union is important in connection with the process of forming regional identity. The multilingualism policy is defined in the EU regulations, guarantees direct access to information and justice equally for all EU citizens. The article argues that the normative experience of the EU multilingualism is acceptable for any multinational state. On its territory, the 24 languages have equal status. These policies have their own peculiarities, most notably in institutional practice and norm-setting. These policies intersect on many fronts with common European cultural and educational policies, and even in the field of sustainable development.

Key words: regulatory environment, ethno-linguistic policy, multilingualism, European Union, linguistic diversity, multi-ethnic and multicultural society.