A new civil society platform for the promotion of multilingualism has held its constitutive meeting in Brussels. Its main objective is to promote a permanent dialogue between the Commission and civil society on the different aspects of the multilingualism policy.

Among the members of the platform are representatives from the education and culture sectors and the media and other civil society organisations such as the Club of Madrid and the Yuste Foundation, which has recently launched its Carlos V Award.

The Civil Society Platform to promote Multilingualism will be a forum for the exchange of best practices for the media, cultural organisations and those involved in non-formal and informal education. The aim will be to encourage public debate on how best to promote the wider use of different languages. Priority target groups of the platform's work are school dropouts, people in vocational education and training, senior citizens as well as immigrants.

The platform will also develop proposals to be examined by national governments as part of their co-operation on multilingualism issues in the fields of education and training.

Business Platform for Multilingualism

On September 2009 the Commission set up a similar thematic forum for businesses in the framework of European Languages Day. The Business Platform for Multilingualism involves the business community, social partners, trade organisations, chambers of commerce, trade promotion organisations, schools and education authorities.

Background

The importance of languages for social cohesion and overcoming barriers to integration is a theme that is being closely followed by the European Commission. The Communication on multilingualism of 2008 called for the setting up of a civil society platform promoting multilingualism for intercultural dialogue.

Moreover, in 2009 the Commission has launched “European Master's in Translation ” network, which will promote the exchange of best practice between participating universities and enhance teaching standards and foster the creation of a truly European market for skilled translators.

Within the context of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009, the Commission has highlighted how language skills can contribute to foster social and individual wellbeing.

List of platform members

• EEE-YFU -Youth For Understanding Federation of European Publishers
• RECIT -Réseau européen des centres internationaux de traduction littéraire
• ACT - Association of Commercial Television in Europe
• Culturelink Network
• Literature Across Frontiers
• EFIL - European Federation for Intercultural Learning
• CEATL -Conseil européen des associations de traducteurs littéraires
• CMFE Community Media Forum Europe
• Yuste -Fundación Academia Europea de Yuste
• FUEV - Föderalistische Union Europäischer Volksgruppen
• EUROPEAN WRITERS’ COUNCIL
• EAEA-European Association for the Education of Adults
• CEPI - European Coordination of Independent Producers
• European Theatre Convention
• EBLUL – Eurolang Brussels
• ECA - European Council of Artists
• EPC - European Publishers Council
• ALTE - European Projects Officer
• EEU -Eŭropa Esperanto-Unio
• Club of Madrid Brussels Office
• European Association for Terminology
• The European Forum for Vocational Education and Training (EfVET)
• EUROCLIO – European Association of History Educators
• EUNIC Brussels aisbl
• ISSA - International Step by Step Association
• Mercator Network of Language Diversity Centres
• ECSWE - European Council For Steiner Waldorf Education
• EFNIL - European Federation of National Institutions for Language