The purpose of the hearing is to discuss and analyze the effectiveness of language policies adopted until now by the European Union (both on its own and together with the Member States) in order to ensure their monitoring and their outcome as well as to promote measures aimed at fostering language diversity. Since the Treaties of Rome, the European Union acknowledges the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity and the legal value of multilinguism as a funding value and a key factor for European cohesion. However, the EU, Member States and specialized international organisations question the effectiveness of the current policies related to the educational and professional system. According to UNESCO, about half of the 6,000 or so languages spoken in the world are under threat and up to 95% are in danger of disappearing because of the globalisation of communication and the tendency to use only one language.

For all these reasons it is important to bring together all stakeholders and international organisations -  to generate a fruitful transnational debate  focused on the current situation and the actions to be taken at a European level in order to defend cultural identities in the European Union.

Click here for the detailed programme of the hearing.