THE final exit of the UK from the EU will have one other consequence apart from increased bureaucracy and confusion – the end of English as the official European language.

Every member state has the right to choose the language in which they want any translations, and according to European and Scottish affairs correspondent Udo Seiwert-Fauti, Malta has chosen Maltese, Cyprus opted for Greek and the Republic of Ireland has chosen Gaelic.

He told The National: “If these regulations still work and have to be followed, and I have not yet heard any different, English will be only a working language in talking to each other within the EU but it will end as the official EU language.”

Seiwert-Fauti said that if Austria decided to leave the bloc, it would have no consequences because they and Germany have the German language.

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However, he said things were different at the Council of Europe (CoE) in Strasbourg: “English and French are the official languages and the UK is still a fully paying member state. At the beginning of January the UK will pay about €20 million (£18.1m) into the CoE budget. The UK flag is still flying – if you leave the CoE building it’s on the far right – and they agree to follow the sentences of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the European Court of Justice.”

European Parliament political leaders, meanwhile, have started their examination of the future relationship between the bloc and the UK in a discussion with EP president David Sassoli, Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, and chief negotiator Michel Barnier.

The Conference of Presidents accepted a provisional application to mitigate disruption for citizens and businesses and prevent the chaos of a No-Deal scenario.

Political leaders stressed the EP’s wish to monitor closely the implementation of the agreement, underlining that parliamentary co-operation is a key part of any future treaty between the EU and the UK.