One language disappears every two weeks, and up to 90 % of existing languages could be gone by the turn of the century. Globalisation, social and economic pressures and political options can determine whether a language survives. Multilingualism is a cornerstone of the European project, with 24 official and 60 minority languages. In a digital era, ensuring digital language equality can help preserve linguistic diversity.

EPRS STOA podcast - What if everyone spoke the same language?

Enter the buildings of the European Parliament, as more than 300,000 visitors do every year, and chances are one of the first things you’ll be struck by is that people seem to be speaking a bewildering variety of languages - and that no one seems to notice!

Multilingualism

Valter Mavrič, Directeur-General de la Traduction du Parlement Européen parle à Nicola Beer, Vice-Presidente du Parlement Européen chargée du multilinguisme.

Interview sur le multilinguisme avec la Vice-Presidente Nicola Beer

The European Union has multilingualism in its DNA and promotes translation and interpreting in many ways. That is only natural, as it needs to make sure that its laws are understood by all its citizens, and to be able to listen to what they have to say in their mother tongues. Here are three things that the European Union does for translators and interpreters

This is what Europe does for translators and interpreters

Interview with Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, EP President 2004 - 2007 on Multilinguism (audio only)

The story of the EP by its Presidents: Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, EP President 2004 - 2007 - 2. Multilinguism

The Conference on the Future of Europe is a series of citizen-led debates and discussions that enable people from across Europe to share their ideas and help shape our common European future. The European Citizens´panels are an integral part of the CoFoE.

The European Citizens’ Panel on "EU in the world / Migration" will meet at the European Institute for Public Administration in Maastricht and online to deliver its recommendations. In March, the Panel’s report - on the EU’s self-reliance and stability, its place in the world, and all aspects of migration-related issues - will be debated in a Conference Plenary session.

The panels bring together people from different walks of life. Citizens have been chosen randomly by specialist contractors on behalf of the EU institutions, using methodologies that ensure that they are representative of the EU's diversity in terms of geographic origin, gender, age, socioeconomic background and level of education. Young people between 16 and 25 make up one-third of each panel.

These citizens come up with ideas and recommendations that will feed into the overall Conference deliberations, in particular into the Conference Plenaries, and ultimately into the report on its final outcome. The European Citizens’ Panels kicked&nbsp;off with the first 200-citizen meeting 17-19 of September in Strasbourg.

The first sessions of all four Panels took&nbsp;place on&nbsp;Parliament’s premises in Strasbourg and began&nbsp;working on draft recommendations within each Panel’s remit. This first European Citizens’ Panel focused on a stronger economy, social justice, jobs/education, youth, culture, and sport/digital transformation, based on citizens’ contributions collected from across Europe on a Multilingual Digital Platform, as well as support and presentations from prominent academics. The second European Citizens’ Panel focused&nbsp;on European democracy/values, rights, the rule of law, and security. The third panel´s agenda was&nbsp;climate change, environment and health. The fourth on the EU in the world/migration.

Also, the Panels are meeting in four European academic institutions (Dublin, Florence, Natolin/Warsaw, and Maastricht) to finalise their recommendations so they can be discussed at the Conference Plenary.

From 25-27 February&nbsp;the final European Citizens' Panels covering ‘A stronger economy, social justice and jobs / Education, culture, youth and sport / Digital transformation' was held in Dublin. The recommendations will be debated at the Conference Plenary in early March, alongside recommendations from the Panel on 'EU in the world / migration', and from national panels and events.

European Citizens’ Panels

On Europe Day, the Presidents of the European Parliament, Commission and Council received the final report with proposals to reform the EU. During a closing ceremony  in Strasbourg, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, on behalf of the Council Presidency, President Emmanuel Macron, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen received from the Co-Chairs of the Conference Executive Board the final report on the outcome of the Conference.
This one-year journey of discussion, debate and collaboration between citizens and politicians culminated in a report centred around 49 proposals that include concrete objectives and more than 320 measures for the EU institutions to follow up on under nine topics: climate change and the environment; health; a stronger economy, social justice and jobs; EU in the world; values and rights, rule of law, security; digital transformation; European democracy; migration; education, culture, youth and sport. The proposals are based on recommendations made by citizens who met within the European Citizens’ Panels, National Citizens’ Panels and contributed their ideas on the Multilingual Digital Platform.

President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, said: "Citizens - especially young people - are at the heart of our vision for the future of Europe. They have directly shaped the outcome of the Conference. We are at a defining moment of European integration and no suggestion for change should be off-limits. We should not be afraid to unleash the power of Europe to change people’s lives for the better."

Conference on the Future of Europe: closing event

On 10 September 1952, Paul-Henri Spaak presided over the opening of the first ever session of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community in Strasbourg. It was the starting point of today’s European Parliament.

In 70 years, the Assembly has grown in strength. Born as a consultative body with limited powers, it has become a true institution embracing European democracy and the expression of European public opinion. It changed name and became the European Parliament in 1962, a further step towards becoming the only directly elected, multilingual, multi-party transnational parliament in the world.

EP President Roberta Metsola opened&nbsp;the ceremony of the 70 year of the EP, that took place in Strasbourg, followed by speeches by the Prime Ministers of Parliament’s three host countries - French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, Alexander de Croo of Belgium, and Luxembourg’s Xavier Bettel.

70th anniversary of the European Parliament

Languages are an integral part of European Democracy. With its 27 member states and 24 official languages, Parliament has to be multilingual. Not only for its members, but also for you! It ensures equality of treatment and transparency towards its citizens. Discover more about the importance of languages and multilingualism in this package!

Online Multilingualism Day 2020

Illustration interpreters

Opening by the Co-Chairs and agenda as proposed by the Executive Board

European Citizens’ Panels - presentation by the Co-Chairs and the representatives from the European Citizens’ Panels followed by discussion

Amendment of the agenda 

Report by the Representatives from National Panels and Events on the National panels and events being held

Report from the European Youth Event

Multilingual Digital Platform - presentation by the Co-Chairs of the interim reports and state of play followed by discussion

Closing of the Conference Plenary meeting

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary

Multilingualism Day 2021 - Online

Purpose and expectations of the Conference including European Citizens' Panels, National Panels/events and Multilingual Digital Platform: presentation and general discussion

Calendar of Conference Plenaries, European Citizens’ Panels and European Citizens’ Event, and Co-chairs proposal on the organisation of thematic working groups: presentation and discussion

Inaugural plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe

Multilingualism Day 2020

Silvia COSTA and Androulla VASSILIOU - European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth

UNKN

Doris PACK and Androulla VASSILIOU - European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth

Androulla VASSILIOU - European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth

Press conference: Andrea VASSILIOU - European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth

Multilingualism: an asset for Europe and a shared commitment (short presentation)

Multilingualism Day 2023

Multilingualism Day 2022

Multilingualism Day

Multilingualism Day 2020 online - The European Parliament as a multilingual  workplace

EP Multilingualism_Day 2019

Multilingualism Day 2018: Let's Talk

STEVENS, Helga (ECR, BE); KAMALL, Syed (ECR, UK);

Event ' Multilingualism and equal rights in the EU: the role of sign languages '

Committee on Culture and Education (CULT). - The implementation the European Strategy on Multilingualism

Commissioner Androulla VASSILIOU, in charge of Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Othmar KARAS, Hubert NEUPER

Meeting with Othmar KARAS and Commissioner VASSILIOU

EMPL - Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. Discussion with Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth

Androulla VASSILIOU Commissioner in charge of Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth

Press conference by Commissioner Androulla VASSILIOU on Rethinking education

Martin SCHULZ - EP President, Androulla VASSILIOU

Martin SCHULZ - EP President meets with Androulla VASSILIOU, European Commissioner in charge of Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth

Susanne ALTENBER, Olga COSMIDOU, J.C JIMENEZ MARIN, A. WAIBEL

New technologies and education for multilingualism going global  First Conference of Rectors of Universities dealing with Interpretation.

New technologies and education for multilingualism.

Final Conference of the European Universities Network on Multilingualism (EUNoM).Globalization, Modernity and Knowledge. Opportunities and challenges in a Multilingual world.

Multilingual European Parliament Nameplate

European Parliament in Brussels

Outside view of the European Parliament in Brussels

This clip illustrates multiple degrees of multilingualism in the European Parliament, with citizens using the multilinguism facilities during the European day and in the visitors Hub; journalists and EP members using interpretation facilities at work. Firmly rooted in the European treaties, multilingualism is the reflection of this cultural and linguistic diversity. It also makes the European institutions more accessible and transparent for all citizens of the Union, which is essential for the success of the EU’s democratic system. Every European citizen has the right to stand for election to the European Parliament. All EU citizens must be able to read legislation affecting them in the language of their own country. As a co-legislator, the European Parliament also has a duty to ensure that the linguistic quality of all laws it adopts is flawless in all official languages.

European Parliament Stockshots 9th Parliamentary Term: Multilingualism in the European Parliament

&lt;p>Interview with Nicole FONTAINE, former EP President (1999-2002) on EU integration.&lt;/p>

The story of the EP by its Presidents: Nicole FONTAINE, EP President 1999-2002 - EU integration: From multilingualism to a single currency

After a year of grassroots events, ideas submitted on the multilingual digital platform, discussions and debates, proposals from the Conference on the Future of Europe will be presented to EU institutions. Citizens have been at the heart of the process and the conclusions represent their vision for the EU of tomorrow. The institutions have promised to follow up on the Conference – turning the proposals into concrete policy. The final event will be held at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Europe Day, 9 May, exactly a year after the Conference was launched.

9 May: The Conference's conclusions are coming!

The Plenary session of the Conference on the Future of Europe debate concrete proposals from the Working Groups. The proposals will be based on the recommendations made by the European Citizens’ Panels, national panels, and ideas gathered through the Multilingual Digital Platform, as well as the exchanges held during the Conference Plenary and Working Group sessions. Closing remarks by Riina SIKKUT, Chair of the Working Group on Digital transformation, and by Gisele MAGNERY, Spokesperson of the WG

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary on Digital transformation: closing remarks by Riina SIKKUT, Chair of the Working Group on Digital transformation, and by Gisele MAGNERY, Spokesperson of the WG

The Plenary session of the Conference on the Future of Europe debate concrete proposals from the Working Groups. The proposals will be based on the recommendations made by the European Citizens’ Panels, national panels, and ideas gathered through the Multilingual Digital Platform, as well as the exchanges held during the Conference Plenary and Working Group sessions. Third part of the debate.

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary on Digital transformation: Debate (part 3)

The Plenary session of the Conference on the Future of Europe debate concrete proposals from the Working Groups. The proposals will be based on the recommendations made by the European Citizens’ Panels, national panels, and ideas gathered through the Multilingual Digital Platform, as well as the exchanges held during the Conference Plenary and Working Group sessions. Second part of the debate.

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary on Digital transformation: Debate (part 2)

The Plenary session of the Conference on the Future of Europe debate concrete proposals from the Working Groups. The proposals will be based on the recommendations made by the European Citizens’ Panels, national panels, and ideas gathered through the Multilingual Digital Platform, as well as the exchanges held during the Conference Plenary and Working Group sessions. First part of the debate.

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary on Digital transformation: Debate (part 1)

The Plenary session of the Conference on the Future of Europe debate concrete proposals from the Working Groups. The proposals will be based on the recommendations made by the European Citizens’ Panels, national panels, and ideas gathered through the Multilingual Digital Platform, as well as the exchanges held during the Conference Plenary and Working Group sessions. Opening remarks by Riina SIKKUT, Chair of the WG, and by Gisele MAGNERY, Spokesperson of the WG

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary on Digital transformation: opening remarks by Riina SIKKUT, Chair of the Working Group on Digital transformation, and by Gisele MAGNERY, Spokesperson of the WG

The Plenary session of the Conference on the Future of Europe debate concrete proposals from the Working Groups. The proposals will be based on the recommendations made by the European Citizens’ Panels, national panels, and ideas gathered through the Multilingual Digital Platform, as well as the exchanges held during the Conference Plenary and Working Group sessions. Closing remarks by Asees AHUJA, Chair of the Working Group on the role of the EU in the World, and by Mansef CAMPOS, Spokesperson of the WG

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary on EU in the World: closing remarks by Asees AHUJA, Chair of the Working Group on the role of the EU in the World, and by Mansef CAMPOS, Spokesperson of the WG

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary on EU in the World: Debate (part 3)

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary on EU in the World: Debate (part 2)

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary on EU in the World: Debate (part 1)

The Plenary session of the Conference on the Future of Europe debate concrete proposals from the Working Groups. The proposals will be based on the recommendations made by the European Citizens’ Panels, national panels, and ideas gathered through the Multilingual Digital Platform, as well as the exchanges held during the Conference Plenary and Working Group sessions. Stand Up For Ukraine (video) and opening remarks by Asees AHUJA, Chair of the Working Group on the role of the EU in the world, and by Mansef CAMPOS, Spokesperson of the WG.

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary on EU in the World: Stand Up For Ukraine (video) and opening remarks by Asees AHUJA, Chair of the Working Group on the role of the EU in the world, and by Mansef CAMPOS, Spokesperson of the WG

The Plenary session of the Conference on the Future of Europe debate concrete proposals from the Working Groups. The proposals will be based on the recommendations made by the European Citizens’ Panels, national panels, and ideas gathered through the Multilingual Digital Platform, as well as the exchanges held during the Conference Plenary and Working Group sessions. Closing remarks by Anna PASKOVÁ, Chair of the Working Group on Climate Change and Environment, and by Dorin HELL, Spokesperson of the WG

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary on Climate change and Environment: closing remarks by Anna PASKOVÁ, Chair of the Working Group on Climate Change and Environment, and by Dorin HELL, Spokesperson of the WG

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary on Climate change and Environment: Debate (part 3)

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary on Climate change and Environment: Debate (part 2)

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary on Climate change and Environment: Debate (part 1)

The Plenary session of the Conference on the Future of Europe debate concrete proposals from the Working Groups. The proposals will be based on the recommendations made by the European Citizens’ Panels, national panels, and ideas gathered through the Multilingual Digital Platform, as well as the exchanges held during the Conference Plenary and Working Group sessions. Opening remarks by Anna PASKOVÁ, Chair of the Working Group on Climate change and Environment, and by Dorin HELL, Spokesperson of the WG.

Conference on the Future of Europe - Plenary on Climate change and Environment: opening remarks by Anna PASKOVÁ, Chair of the Working Group on Climate change and Environment, and by Dorin HELL, Spokesperson of the WG

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