Languages are a basic building block behind these activities. Multilingual citizens are better equipped to take advantage of the educational opportunities created by an integrated Europe.
The EU’s language policy promotes multilingualism and aims for a situation in which every EU citizen can speak at least two foreign languages in addition to their mother tongue. This follows the call by EU leaders at the March 2002 Barcelona European Council that every child in the EU should be taught at least two foreign languages from an early age.
Milestones in the EU language policy include the following:
Council conclusions of 12 May 2009 on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training ("ET 2020")The EU Education Council recalled the importance of the Barcelona objective of 2002 of learning two foreign languages from an early age. The Ministers invited the Commission to pursue work to enable citizens to communicate in two foreign languages, to promote language teaching, where relevant, in vocational education and training and for adult learners, and to provide migrants with opportunities to learn the language of the host country.
An updated strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training, December 2008
The Commission presents in this document its strategic vision for co-operation between EU Member States on the reform of their education and training systems. This covers both immediate priorities for 2009-10 and long-term challenges, as well as suggestions for improved tools to meet them.
Council Resolution of 21 November 2008 on a European strategy for multilingualism
The Resolution is a follow-up of the Commission Communication of September 2008.
Multilingualism: an asset for Europe and a shared commitment, September 2008
The Commission Communication advocates an approach which includes multilingualism across a whole series of EU policy areas.
Inventory of Community actions in the field of multilingualism
The staff working document complements and underpins the Communication on Multilingualism, by mapping the actions that the different services of the Commission have already undertaken or are carrying out in this field.
Council conclusions of 22 May 2008 on multilingualism
The Conclusions build on discussions held at the Education Council in November 2007 and the Ministerial Conference on Multilingualism held on 15 February 2008.
Public Consultation on Multilingualism: the online consultation in Autumn 2007 and the Public Hearing of 15 April 2008
The Commission launched an online consultation between 15 September – 15 November 2007, inviting organisations and individuals to write their views and expectations concerning language policy. The outcomes of the survey were published in February 2008 and discussed in public in the framework of a Public Hearing on Multilingualism on 15 April 2008.
2008 Ministerial conference on multilingualism
On 15 February 2008 the European Commission organised a Ministerial Conference to discuss the challenges and opportunities related to languages in a European Union of 23 different official languages.
2008 Consultation Meeting for High Representatives of Member States
On 17 January 2008, the Commission organised a Consultation Meeting for High Representatives of Member States to gather the views of those involved in decision making on language policies at national level.
A New Framework Strategy for Multilingualism, 2005
In November 2005, the Commission published a Communication entitled “A New Framework Strategy for Multilingualism”, its first-ever Communication on this subject.
The European Indicator of Language Competence
The European survey, which is due to take place in 2010, aims to provide Member States, policy makers, teachers and practitioners with reliable comparative data on foreign language competence across the European Union.
The Language Action Plan (2004-2006)
These Resolutions of 2002 were the basic steps underpinning the Action Plan “Promoting Language Learning and Linguistic Diversity”.
2002 Resolution recommending measures to promote linguistic diversity and language learning
As the European Year of Languages came to a close, the European Parliament adopted a Resolution recommending measures to promote linguistic diversity and language learning, which was followed by a Council Resolution of 14 February 2002.
European Year of Languages
2001 was declared the European Year of Languages by the European Union and the Council of Europe.
Lisbon Strategy
Politicians at European level have recognised that education and training are essential to the development and success of today's knowledge society and economy. The EU's strategy emphasises countries working together and learning from each other.
Regional and minority languages
EU language policy also embraces support for regional and minority languages, which make an important contribution to the diversity of the EU.
1995 White Paper on Education and Training: Teaching and Learning - Towards the Learning Society
According to the White Paper, education and training can provide solutions to the challenges raised by the three main "factors of upheaval": the information society, internationalization, and the scientific and technical fields.
