Conference on literary translation and culture, Brussels, 20th April 2009

The Conference allowed stakeholders and professionals to exchange their views and reflect on the main problems and potentials of the literary translation sector. As a first consideration it was underlined that the conference was the first to gather literary translators under the aegida of the European Commission. Moreover, the point was made that today literary translation is a true science, with its methods and masters. Training and remuneration were mentioned as crucial elements for high quality translations, together with the importance of centres of residence for the mobility of translators and the role of publishers in the diffusion of translated books. The perspective of translation as a tool for the promotion of the European culture in the world was also explored, together with the new opportunities offered in the audiovisual arts. The holding of regular meetings to gather literary translators was taken into consideration, together with the creation of a European label for bookstores presenting a vast choice of translated books.

The Conference on Literary Translation and Culture was opened by President Barroso and Commissioner Orban who subsequently held a debate on the issue with the writer Ernesto Ferrero and the composer Jordi Savall.

Ernesto Ferrero claimed that literary translators are heroes of modern times, for their task is difficult and their working conditions are harsh. Jordi Savall underlined the importance of translation for less spoken languages. Comparing language to music, he asserted that both need interpretation to be understood.

The plenary was introduced by Commissioner Orban, who presented the European Commission tools for sustaining literary translation in the more general framework of the multilingualism strategy. MEP Vasco Graça Moura and the writer Younis Tawfik described the role translation plays in the preservation of our cultural heritage and in the dialogue between cultures.

Commissioner Orban draw the final conclusions of the Conference underlying first of all the fact literary translation is a crucial element for the European culture and that the European Commission will explore all possibilities to sustain the profession within the limits of its competences. Commissioner Orban mentioned the interesting experience of the School of Toledo as an inspiring model for the profession and expressed the interest of the European Commission for the establishment of a European observatory on literary translation. Reminding the opportunities for funding offered by the "Culture" Programme, Commissioner Orban explained that this kind of support is available for any language, not only official national languages.

Commissioner Orban underlined also that national authorities can strongly contribute to the promotion of the profession and to the support of literary works and concluded with the hope that this conference on literary translation will be just the first step of a process leading to improvements in the working conditions of literary translators and in the diffusion of literary works, in the wider perspective of the promotion multilingualism and of the European integration.