The European Year of Languages 2001 was a joint Council of Europe and European Commission initiative to promote multilingualism and a greater languages capability across Europe. It was celebrated in 45 countries and co-ordinated in the UK by CILT.

European Day of Languages
The activites of the European Year of Languages continue annually through the celebration of the European Day of Languages on 26 September.

Policy: An agenda for languages
At the ‘Face to Face’ conference in Birmingham (October 2001), CILT presented a proposal document ‘An Agenda for Languages’ which outlined a way forward in developing policy and practice on languages. Produced as a result of consultation within and beyond the UK, it promotes the idea of languages and language capability as basic life skills and sets out the challenges ahead for education, civil society and commerce and industry in translating this vision into action.

An agenda for languages (pdf, 126KB)