KCI Virtual Café - European Day of Languages

This year, the EU celebrates 20 years of its biggest enlargement: on 1 May 2004, ten countries (Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) joined the European Union, which grew from 15 to 25 members. This historic enlargement of the EU, increasing the number of Member States by two-thirds overnight, was the culmination of a long accession process. It signalled the reunification of a Europe that had been divided for half a century. The enlargement made the EU the world's largest integrated market and increased trade between Member States, contributing to economic growth both in the EU and the acceding countries. 

For the linguistic services of the Commission, the 2004 enlargement meant adding nine (!) official languages to the existing 11 – so the amount almost doubled overnight: from 1 May 2004, they had to translate and interpret also in Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Slovene and Slovak. 

Obviously, each of the new Member States also had to prepare for joining the EU by mobilising its resources, including language-related ones. 

What better opportunity than the European Day of Languages to provide you with some insights into those processes with a varied programme, including several testimonials from the people who contributed to making it happen, a panel discussion and a quiz? 

Have a look at the programme!

This is the link to the live streaming of the event.

The 2004 enlargement languages will be in the spotlight: our interpreters will be providing simultaneous interpretation from all of them into French, German and English, providing participants with a nice opportunity to witness simultaneous interpretation in action.

We hope that many of you will be able to join us for this special edition! 

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