Every year since 2001 the European Day of Languages marked on 26 September celebrates the wealth of languages coexisting in Europe and beyond. Over 225 languages are native to Europe alone, not including languages that arrived on the continent through migration. The motto of this year’s day is “Languages for Peace”.
“Linguistic diversity, from which a remarkable cultural diversity springs, is the foundation of today's Europe. We are unique because we pay attention to each language, to its preservation, to its dissemination in the public sphere. Respect for all languages, even the smallest ones, ensures our communion and keeps alive the project of European unity, as today's events across Europe show,” said Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania which currently holds the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
“The European Day of Languages is also a celebration of democracy, freedom and solidarity. By understanding each other better, we are better able to find common solutions and to build a common future in which everyone matters, because everyone enriches the Europe of our birth. Let us cherish this gift of linguistic and cultural diversity, not only by cherishing our mother tongue but also by learning other languages!”
The European Day of Languages aims to:
- Raise awareness of the importance of language learning to increase plurilingualism and intercultural understanding.
- Promote the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe.
- Encourage lifelong language learning in and out of school.
Council of Europe offices are involved in the coordination of several language fairs, among them in Graz (Austria), where the European Centre for Modern Languages celebrates its 30th anniversary, in Belgrade (Serbia) along with cultural institutes and the European Commission and as far afield as Tunis (Tunisia) where a varied programme of language-inspired activities is foreseen. The European Commission, a long-standing partner of the Council of Europe, is also involved in the organisation of around 70 events around the Day this year.
