EU: The recommendations of the High Level Group on Multilingualism

The High Level Group on Multilingualism transmitted to Commissioner Orban its final report with recommendations to the Commission for actions in the field of multilingualism, which concentrates on several areas: raising awareness and enhancing motivation on language learning; the potential of the media in evoking, enhancing and sustaining motivation for language learning; languages for business; interpretation and translation – new trends and needs; regional or minority languages; research into multilingualism.

The Group, comprising 11 experts from across Europe, which was set up in response to the 2005 Communication “A new framework strategy for multilingualism”, was given the remit to 'provide support and advice in developing initiatives, as well as fresh impetus and ideas for a comprehensive approach to multilingualism in the European Union'.

Some of the findings of the Group are:

• Launching information campaigns to raise the awareness concerning language learning.
• “Using” immigrants as a source of language knowledge and as an opportunity for companies to use their linguistic and cultural abilities in order to enter the markets where immigrants come from.
• Professionalising the training of third countries languages.
• Developing masters in translation and interpretation, developing higher education programmes in the field of legal, court and community translation and interpretation are other recommendations of the High Level Group on Multilingualism.

Commissioner Orban said that the recommendations of this group are very valuable, since they can inspire concrete projects and research into aspects of multilingualism where there are currently gaps in our knowledge.

For more information on the full report of the High Level Group:
http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/doc/multireport_en.pdf