Language is a major problem for the European Union (EU).
Language
is
a
major
problem
for
the
European
Union
(
EU
)
.
The agreement or treaty which created the organization that eventually became the EU, the Treaty of Rome, stated that each country's language must be treated equally.
The
agreement
or
treaty
which
created
the
organization
that
eventually
became
the
EU
,
the
Treaty
of
Rome
,
stated
that
each
country
's
language
must
be
treated
equally
.
The original six countries had only three languages between them: French.
The
original
six
countries
had
only
three
languages
between
them
:
French
.
German and Dutch/Flemish.
German
and
Dutch/Flemish
.
However, there are now 15 countries in the EU, with a total of 12 languages.
However
,
there
are
now
15
countries
in
the
EU
,
with
a
total
of
12
languages
.
EU documents must be translated into all these languages, and at official meetings the speeches must be translated into all the languages by interpreters.
EU
documents
must
be
translated
into
all
these
languages
,
and
at
official
meetings
the
speeches
must
be
translated
into
all
the
languages
by
interpreters
.
All this translating is very expensive and time-consuming.
All
this
translating
is
very
expensive
and
time-consuming
.
it is said that nearly half of all employees of the EU are engaged in translating documents and speeches, and nearly half of the EU's administrative costs are spent on this task.
it
is
said
that
nearly
half
of
all
employees
of
the
EU
are
engaged
in
translating
documents
and
speeches
,
and
nearly
half
of
the
EU
's
administrative
costs
are
spent
on
this
task
.
In the near future it is probably that several more countries, most of them having their own languages, will join the EU, thus making the situation even worse.
In
the
near
future
it
is
probably
that
several
more
countries
,
most
of
them
having
their
own
languages
,
will
join
the
EU
,
thus
making
the
situation
even
worse
.
The problem is not just cost: there are practical difficulties as well.
The
problem
is
not
just
cost
:
there
are
practical
difficulties
as
well
.
With 12 languages, there are 132 possible "translation situations" that might be needed.
With
12
languages
,
there
are
132
possible
``
translation
situations
''
that
might
be
needed
.
It is often' difficult to find people in the right place at the right time who can translate from (for example) Danish into Greek, or Dutch into Portuguese, at a high professional standard.
It
is
often
'
difficult
to
find
people
in
the
right
place
at
the
right
time
who
can
translate
from
(
for
example
)
Danish
into
Greek
,
or
Dutch
into
Portuguese
,
at
a
high
professional
standard
.
In practice the problem has been made less serious by the use of English in many contacts between EU officials, since almost all of them speak some English.
In
practice
the
problem
has
been
made
less
serious
by
the
use
of
English
in
many
contacts
between
EU
officials
,
since
almost
all
of
them
speak
some
English
.
However, any move to reduce the number of official languages (perhaps to four or five) would be a blow to the pride of the smaller countries.
However
,
any
move
to
reduce
the
number
of
official
languages
(
perhaps
to
four
or
five
)
would
be
a
blow
to
the
pride
of
the
smaller
countries
.
Another commonly suggested solution is to make English the official language for all EU business.
Another
commonly
suggested
solution
is
to
make
English
the
official
language
for
all
EU
business
.
However, powerful member countries like France and Germany are strongly against it.
However
,
powerful
member
countries
like
France
and
Germany
are
strongly
against
it
.
Language is a major problem for the European Union (EU). The agreement or treaty which created the organization that eventually became the EU, the Treaty of Rome, stated that each country's language must be treated equally. The original six countries had only three languages between them: French. German and Dutch/Flemish. However, there are now 15 countries in the EU, with a total of 12 languages. EU documents must be translated into all these languages, and at official meetings the speeches must be translated into all the languages by interpreters.  All this translating is very expensive and time-consuming. it is said that nearly half of all employees of the EU are engaged in translating documents and speeches, and nearly half of the EU's administrative costs are spent on this task. In the near future it is probably that several more countries, most of them having their own languages, will join the EU, thus making the situation even worse.  The problem is not just cost: there are practical difficulties as well. With 12 languages, there are 132 possible "translation situations" that might be needed. It is often' difficult to find people in the right place at the right time who can translate from (for example) Danish into Greek, or Dutch into Portuguese, at a high professional standard.  In practice the problem has been made less serious by the use of English in many contacts between EU officials, since almost all of them speak some English. However, any move to reduce the number of official languages (perhaps to four or five) would be a blow to the pride of the smaller countries. Another commonly suggested solution is to make English the official language for all EU business. However, powerful member countries like France and Germany are strongly against it.