Languages for SMEs
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Ladies and gentlemen, Good morning, Bonjour, Guten Morgen, Buenos Dias, Buongiorno, καλημέρα!
I don't often use my own language for official Commission business – but today I can't resist and I will shortly do so!
The European Day of Languages gives me the perfect opportunity – all over Europe, language experts and beginners are trying out their language skills this week and next. We have assembled a whole range of events, and we want everyone to join in this languages workout.
So let me welcome you all to today's European Day of languages event: a round-table discussion on how language skills can boost business and create career opportunities.
And a special welcome to our panellists and the company representatives in the audience. When we asked a team of researchers to identify some companies which use languages to win international business, they came back with lots of success stories – yourselves…. I am delighted that so many of you have been able to join us for this discussion.
Languages for business …
So, ladies and gentlemen, what brings languages and the world of work together?
First of all, today’s Europe of 27 is a multicultural, diverse enterprise – thanks to enlargements, easier movement between countries, migration and globalisation.
The European Single Market is today the biggest market in the world. Languages strategies can help European business take full advantage of it. And they also open doors to the world beyond.
Look beyond the present bleak economic climate to larger transformations on the horizon. Dynamic, new economies are emerging that have no time to waste. They are busy putting together the language strategies needed in a globalised world.
At the moment, language skills are an advantage in business; soon, they will be indispensable. With language skills, small companies can conquer new markets. This will benefit us all.
Let me dwell a moment on these small companies, SMEs and entrepreneurs: the backbone of our economy and, I believe, the engine for economic recovery.
Even when times are bad, companies need to be on the look-out for new opportunities. With language skills, you have not just one, but many markets open to you.
And yet, only 8% of Europe's 20 million SMEs engage in cross-border trade. Too many companies don't take the plunge because they fear their language skills are not up to the job.
Today, though, we will hear the success stories: we will hear how languages do unblock the barriers to international growth. There is no geographical limit to entrepreneurship, when you have the language skills to connect with the world beyond.
… languages for jobs
Companies are not abstract entities, of course. It is people that make them work. Which is why language skills are in such demand on the labour market too.
Even in today's economic climate, Europe has 4 million job vacancies. But too many people are put off working in another country because they don't speak the language.
And yet, the opportunities are multiplying. Not only international companies, but increasingly, small companies and public administrations, are looking for multilingual people.
And technology is adding to demand, opening up new possibilities that we could only dream of two decades ago. The World Wide Web is creating a global village - but it is also a multilingual village. Skilful communication in many languages is the key for exploring new opportunities across the globe.
Commission support for languages
And where does the European Commission fit in? No surprise to learn that we are fervent language supporters!
Our goal – and one agreed by European leaders in Barcelona in 2002 – is that every European citizen should be able to learn two foreign languages from an early age. This is the key to feeling at home everywhere in Europe; to taking a job in another country; to expanding your business; to connecting up with the other 500 million individuals who make up the Union.
We target languages through education and training, funding cross-border projects, partnerships and exchanges for schools, universities and vocational training. Our exchange programmes like Erasmus – where young people learn new skills through studying abroad – are one of the EU's biggest success stories.
Other initiatives target entrepreneurs and companies directly. The databank for job seekers, EURES, tries to match supply and demand on the labour market.
And we build momentum for change through European cooperation, bringing together government experts, stakeholders and companies from different Member States who have found ways to go global in many languages.
As the European Commissioner responsible for education, culture, multilingualism and youth, I want to make sure every young person can achieve their potential. Every level of education should invest in language learning and all the other skills people need today – entrepreneurship, innovation, risk-taking – to guarantee a good future.
And I will stop there, for now. I want to hear what our guests have to say. Can you find the language skills you need on the labour market? Are trade councils and other government bodies supporting internationalisation? Is Europe doing enough? I am hoping for an open and outspoken exchange of views!
Mrs Smith, over to you.
Thank you.
