1. MULTILINGUALISM POLICY Helsinki 1st September 2005

2. Languages in EU 25 Member States 450,000,000 citizens over 80 languages over 60 regional or minority languages in 138 different language communities

3. Key Data  Around 50%of european citizens say they can speak a foreign language :from less than 30% in Hungary to near 100% in Luxemburg(Eurobarometer 2005.EU 25)  E,F,G,Sp and Ru represent 95% of all languages learnt at School in Europe.  Around 90% of pupils in upper secondary education learn E,regardless of whether or not this is compulsory(13 countries)

4. Strategy and Policy  Action Plan (2004- 2006)  Education and Training 2010  Communication on Multilingualism(oct 2005)  European indicator of language competence(2005- 2007)

5. Promoting Language Learning and Linguistic Diversity: an Action Plan 2004 - 2006

6. Key messages Learning a lingua franca alone is not enough Mother tongue + two other languages for every citizen Lifelong language learning Meaningful communicative competence (not necessarily native speaker level) Promote linguistic diversity

7. Higher Education  Each university to have a coherent language policy and take action to promote its national or regional language.  All students - of all subjects - to study abroad in a foreign language and gain a language qualification as part of degree.

8. Languages in action  Socrates Lingua 1, 2  Awareness raising  New learning tools  Socrates Comenius  Teacher training courses and grants  Language assistantships  Language exchanges  Socrates Erasmus, Socrates Grundtvig

9. Languages in action  Leonardo da Vinci language measures  European Language Label  Funding of EBLUL, Mercator  Over € 30,000,000 p.a.

10. European Languages Label … for innovative projects in language teaching and learning  Pinpoints and rewards interesting local initiatives  Disseminates good practice: the Label database

11. European Indicator of Language Competence Barcelona Council(2002)+Communication from the Commission(August 2005) measure skills at end of compulsory education 5 languages:D,E,ESP,F,I reading, listening, speaking, writing calibrate to Common European Scales of Reference(6 levels) Timing:pilot tests in 2007

12. Framework for progress:  New integrated action programme in the field of Lifelong Learning(2007-2013)  To promote language learning and linguistic diversity is one of the specific objectives of the Programme(second FL mentionned)  Actions:projects(materials,courses),networks

13. Conclusions  Multilingualism is a core value in Europe:it is what makes Europe unique and contributes to its richness;  Learning languages provides people with many benefits:career possibilities,deeper understanding of one’s own and others’ cultures.  Learning languages can be accessible.