According to Eurobarometer, 83% of Europeans value knowing other languages yet 44% cannot hold a conversation in another language. With globalisation and increasing migration, multilingualism is critical to intercultural understanding and cohesion in society, job prospects for individuals and competitiveness in Europe.

What Is Language Rich Europe?

Through fresh research, a pioneering new tool – the Language Rich Europe Index – and a network of partners, this project seeks to capture the attention of leaders in government, business and society across Europe to:

			Illustrate the current situation, highlighting good policy / practice to enable informed policy choices
			Inspire a new language focus among decision makers by demonstrating the importance of languages in stable and prosperous societies
			Motivate more learners / users of many languages

How Will This Be Achieved?

New research: Creating a baseline for language education and multilingual services across countries and industries.

Language Rich Europe Index – A European Index on Multilingual Policies and Practices will compare policies and practices again European Commission and Council of Europe standards in:

			Education (Pre-primary, primary, secondary, adult)
			Public services and spaces
			Business
			Media
			National databases on language diversity

Essays: Highlighting specific national contexts will complement the data collected in each country

Analysis: Using the Index, LRE will determine:

			Best practices: Which recommendations are being followed and work well? Which do not and why?
			Correlations between good practice in one area and success in another area

Language types to be included are:

			National languages
			Foreign languages
			Regional languages
			Immigrant languages

How Will This Information Be Used?

With our expert partners we will build networks of professionals from all sectors covered by the Index, both at a national and international level.

The research and language profiles of each country will be launched and promoted through:

			Publications and an interactive website in at least 22 languages
			Articles and interviews in the media
			Student network of over 2 million EUNIC language learners
			New professional network of over 1200 decision makers across sectors
			22 major national launch events (in 20 countries, 2 regions)
			At least 66 workshops on improving policies and practices across Europe
			22 action plans (national/regional/local level)
			Final paper summarising recommendations
			The impact of the project can be tracked in subsequent editions

Language Rich Europe Index – A European Index on Multilingual Policies and Practices

This project is delivered by a consortium of over 30 partners and is co-managed by a steering group

Our partner in Bosnia and Herzegovina:

Faculty of Philosophy Sarajevo

With the support of the Lifelong Learning programme of the European Union

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