DG Translation provides translation and other linguistic services in all 24 EU official languages. This enables the European Commission to interact and share information with EU citizens in a language they understand.
Why do we work in all 24 of the EU’s official languages, and not in just a few as other international organisations do?
Language equality
The EU official languages all have equal status under EU law (Regulation No 1 of 1958) – this has remained a fundamental principle even as the number of languages has grown with EU enlargements.
When countries join the EU, their national languages may be added if all member states agree.
EU official languages – EU language rules
The Council establishes the rules on the use of languages by the EU institutions, acting unanimously by means of regulations adopted in accordance with Article 342 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Translation as part of the EU decision-making process
EU law applies to all EU citizens, either directly or within national law, so everyone must be able to read and understand it. Publishing laws in all EU official languages is a legal requirement and a democratic safeguard.
EU law must be published in all official languages so that EU citizens and national authorities can read and understand it in their own language.
Translation is essential throughout the legislative process – from early policy papers and draft proposals to final laws. Long before proposals become law, they need to be debated as widely as possible at European, national and local level.
Thanks to translation, EU citizens can
- clearly understand their rights and obligations
- participate meaningfully in public debate.
Everyone in the EU has the right to contribute to debates on proposed legislation in the official language of their choice. This protects transparency and democracy.
Supporting democracy
Translation keeps the EU institutions open and accessible to the public, national authorities and interest groups of all kinds. It supports a democratic culture that respects and safeguards local, regional and national identities.
EU institutions must be open and accessible to the public, national authorities and interest groups of all kinds.
What we translate
Although all EU official languages have equal status, not every text is translated into every language.
Legislation, key policy documents and information for the public are translated into all EU official languages.
Letters to individuals or internal memos, for example, are circulated in just 1 language – this may or may not involve translation. Internal documents are translated only when necessary.
With 24 EU official languages, there are 552 possible translation combinations. When direct translation between 2 languages is not possible, we work via another language (known as a 'relay' language) as an intermediate step.
DG Translation also covers non-EU languages when needed, for example Ukrainian, Macedonian, Icelandic and Turkish.
Translation at the European Commission
DG Translation provides high-quality, faithful and precise translations in all EU official languages, and in other languages as needed.