Meet our language officers!

DG Translation has a network of language officers (field officers) in the EU’s Member States. Their main role is to promote multilingualism and to translate ‘Europe’ into the language of its citizens. These colleagues adapt the Commission’s messages to suit more country contexts and organise many(!) events with a range of local partners – from the language industry, academia, Erasmus+ agencies, schools, cultural institutes and national authorities.

This week, our language officers gathered for a two-day networking meeting in Luxembourg. They had the opportunity to meet in person, to discuss the best ways to localise the Commission’s messages and to promote translation, multilingualism and career opportunities with languages.

As part of their agenda, they received updates about the European Commission’s 2024 priorities - the European elections, the 20th anniversary of the EU’s 2004 enlargement, the AI regulatory framework and the language tools made available to the public by the Commission.

They also shared feedback and impact evaluations following their 2023 events, before reflecting on new concepts and ideas for their 2024 activities in the Member States.

Their annual activity programmes are partly planned in the framework of projects financed through Erasmus +, such as the Translating Europe project, celebrating the European Day of Languages and promoting the Juvenes Translatores contest. They also work on creative ways to promote the translation profession, including opportunities to work as a linguist or a trainee in the EU’s translation services. They also promote eTranslation and other language tools developed by the European Commission under the Digital Europe programme.

Language and translation specialists (and enthusiasts!) are invited to reach out to DG Translation’s Field Officers to learn more about their planned activities, to suggest projects and to volunteer to participate in particular projects.