Van Vliet gave a soft sigh. He hoped what he was about to say would finalise this spat.
'Gentlemen, enough. Clearly this is not just about languages. I think that my compromise was quite appropriate. French is indeed a regional language and the possibility of a Francophone country joining is there. If we include French we don't have to worry about adding any more languages in the future. We have everything covered.'
He finished his glass of water before continuing.
'Now, this is not and should not be about who can control proceedings. The extra cost of translating into French now will be minimal to what it would be throwing it into the mix years from now.'
'Now, Herr Kanzler,' he switched back to German, 'We can always discuss matters of budgetary funding on an individual basis in private at another time if it is really of that high importance. Our Scanian friends from up North have just arrived, they seem to like the charter. Let us all put pen to paper, no? Prime Minister De Jonghe is poised to arrive any moment. I think his landing was delayed. Something about picking up a box of cookies or something...'
'Gentlemen, enough. Clearly this is not just about languages. I think that my compromise was quite appropriate. French is indeed a regional language and the possibility of a Francophone country joining is there. If we include French we don't have to worry about adding any more languages in the future. We have everything covered.'
He finished his glass of water before continuing.
'Now, this is not and should not be about who can control proceedings. The extra cost of translating into French now will be minimal to what it would be throwing it into the mix years from now.'
'Now, Herr Kanzler,' he switched back to German, 'We can always discuss matters of budgetary funding on an individual basis in private at another time if it is really of that high importance. Our Scanian friends from up North have just arrived, they seem to like the charter. Let us all put pen to paper, no? Prime Minister De Jonghe is poised to arrive any moment. I think his landing was delayed. Something about picking up a box of cookies or something...'