Newsletter

Spotlight on multilingualism

Europe is a continent of rich linguistic diversity. Our languages shape who we are as individuals and serve as bridges, bringing us closer together. They lie at the heart of what it means to be ‘united in diversity’, and at the heart of the European project.

EU Member States are committed through the Treaty on European Union (Article 2) to respecting the Union’s ‘rich cultural and linguistic diversity’. From the very beginning, when the first Regulation of the then European Economic Community was adopted in 1958, Member States have emphasised the importance of multilingualism. Ever since, the Regulation has guaranteed citizens the right to contact the EU institutions in any of the Union’s official languages. The Regulation stipulates that the Official Journal of the European Union is to be published in all official languages. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (Article 21) prohibits discrimination on the grounds of language in the EU.

Through its policies, the EU encourages language learning and supports the development and distribution of multilingual content in Europe. Students, trainees and workers can take part in exchange programmes through Erasmus+, gaining academic or professional experience and improving their language skills at the same time. The European Commission awards the European Language Label to innovative projects in the fields of language teaching and promotion. The Creative Europe programme supports the translation of literary works, making them accessible to a wider audience and fostering language diversity.

With the Common European Language Data Space, the EU aims to increase the availability of high-quality data to support European industries in developing top-notch technologies. The EU also supports projects aiming to widen Europeans’ access to state-of-the art multilingual artificial intelligence technologies in all official European languages.

As the publisher of the Official Journal of the European Union, the Publications Office of the EU plays a crucial role in contributing to the Union’s objective of an inclusive society in which all can participate in a multilingual and accessible way.

As we prepare to celebrate the European Day of Languages on 26 September, this month’s newsletter puts the spotlight on multilingualism.

Enjoy the good reads!

Europeans and their languages PDF

Did you know that more than half of all Europeans are able to have a conversation in at least one language other than their mother tongue? Check out the results of this survey showing Europeans’ language knowledge and their attitudes towards multilingualism.

Available in English, French and German

Multilingual dictionary of new words PDF

Here is the eighth edition of the Multilingual Dictionary of New Words, a compilation of neologisms captured by translators from each of the European Parliament’s 24 language units. This edition has an impressive 512 new entries covering various aspects of life, as well as brand new illustrations.

Available in English and French

Translating for Europe PDF

Facts & figures 2024

Did you know that the European Commission's translation services can handle up to 7 million pages of translation per day? EU legislation must be available in all 24 official EU languages. This is a matter of democracy and transparency. All EU citizens must be able to have access to EU law in the language they understand. The Commission’s translation services also translate the contents of the Commission’s external websites where citizens can find out the latest news about EU policies, among others.

Available in English

What language analysis can tell us about brain health html

Did you know that the way we speak can help medical experts understand our chances of developing brain diseases? In this article on cordis.europa.eu, find out how an EU-funded research project sought to develop more accurate and efficient ways of diagnosing and monitoring brain health, through the use of language.

Available in English, French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish

Market study on language technologies PDF

This study analyses current trends in global language technology markets. Discover the market size, growth potential and maturity level of technologies like machine translation, language learning apps, and chatbots. Learn about the impact that these technologies have on intra-EU trade and economic productivity.

Available in English, French and German