Information on Civil Society Platform on Promotion of Multilingualism and its Recommendations

Abstract

The European Commission’s efforts to promote multilingualism in the EU since 2001 have not been effected a change in the current language situation where the EU and SEÁN Ó RIAIN, JOZEF REINVART24 its citizens are drifting towards a narrow multilingualism of the dominant language(s). In 2009 the Commission invited EU civil society to participate in the promotion of multi- lingualism and present its ideas and recommendations through a new Civil Society Plat- form, which has aimed at formulating a coherent overall framework for the development of multilingual policy in Europe. This includes the importance of multilingualism for social cohesion and intercultural dialogue, for parity of esteem for all European languages, and enhanced language-learning opportunities for all citizens. The Platform set to work in four working groups (WGs): WG1 – Education (including language learning, propaedeutic language teaching, minority languages, lesser used languages, early language learning, motivation and promotion) WG2 – Language planning and policy (equality and use of languages, structural changes, linguistic observatory, possible language ombudsman and possible directive against lan- guage discrimination) WG3 – Linguistic diversity and social inclusion (minorities, learning the language of the host country, intercultural dialogue) WG4 – Translation and terminology (literary translation, subtitling, culture, termi- nology). The members of the Platform (representatives of 29 pan-European NGOs) based their work on responses from citizens and NGOs of most EU Member States to detailed ques- tionnaires. The following recommendations thus emanate from the heart of European civil society. On 30 March 2011 the final version of the Platform’s report and its recommen- dations were presented to the Commission, which intends to use them in drafting its 3rd communication on multilingualism, planned for early 2012.