Multilingual Europe: Facts, Challenges, Opportunities

Abstract

Europe’s more than 80 languages are one of its richest and most important cultural assets, and a vital part of its unique social model. While languages such as English and Spanish are likely to thrive in the emerging digital marketplace, many European languages could become marginal in a networked society. This would weaken Europe’s global standing, and run counter to the goal of ensuring equal participation for every European citizen regardless of language. A recent UNESCO report on multilingualism states that languages are an essential medium for the enjoyment of fundamental rights, such as political expression, education and participation in society. From the very beginning, Europe had decided to keep its cultural and linguistic richness and diversity alive during the process of becoming an economic and political union. For maintaining the policy of multilingualism, the EU’s institutions spend about one billion Euros a year on translating texts and interpreting spoken communication. For all European economies the translation costs for compliance with the laws and regulations are much higher.