Languages

In the context of the 2008 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, the Commission has created a Group of Intellectuals for Intercultural Dialogue which has been entrusted with the task of defining the contribution of multilingualism to intercultural dialogue. The results of the Group's discussions are set out in their final report .

In a Europe which will always be multilingual, learning languages opens doors. For individuals, it can open the door to a better career, to the chance to live, study or work abroad, even to more enjoyable holidays. For companies, multilingual staff can open the door to European and global markets.

But there is more than this. The language a person speaks is part of their identity and their culture. So learning languages means understanding other people and their way of thinking. It means opposing racism, xenophobia and intolerance.

The Commission's Eurobarometer survey in November-December 2005 showed that in some European countries, nearly everyone speaks at least two languages. This proves that everybody can be multilingual. Language learning is not just for an élite.

The European Union wants all its citizens to have access to the advantages language skills can bring. So language learning is a major component of our education and training programmes.

In 2001 the European Commission organised the European Year of Languages in cooperation with the Council of Europe.

An action plan for language learning and linguistic diversity was approved by the Commission in July 2003. In September 2007 the Commission published a report on its implementation outlining the main results obtained both at European and at national level.

In November 2005 the Commission approved A New Framework Strategy for Multilingualism .

In 2006 and in keeping with the commitment taken in that Strategy, the Commission created a High Level Group on Multilingualism, made up of independent experts. Its task was to assist the Commission in analysing the progress made by Member States, and to provide support and advice in developping initiatives, as well as a fresh impetus and ideas. The recommendations of the Group were published in September 2007 (short version .