Multilingualism Day 2024 

Join us at the European Parliament Multilingualism Day on 27-28 September 2024 to celebrate linguistic diversity in the EU!

Multilingualism Day is your opportunity to peek behind the scenes of the world’s most multilingual parliament and to experience how the European Parliament works in 24 languages. Meet our interpreters, translators, communications experts and other multilingual staff, learn about their work and set foot inside the Hemicycle.

Multilingualism ensures that all EU citizens can follow the work of directly-elected representatives in any of the 24 official EU languages. Linguistic and cultural diversity is a strength of the EU and woven into the EU treaties as a core value. Multilingualism Day is your chance to see this diversity in action.

The event offers a varied programme of activities over two days. On Friday 27 September, you can follow workshops online and on Saturday 28 September, we welcome you on-site at the European Parliament in Brussels.

Dive deeper into interpretation and translation in these interactive workshops. The online sessions cover various aspects of working as a language professional at the European Parliament and are a great opportunity to get your questions answered.

The workshops are limited to small groups, so registration is mandatory and on a first come, first served basis. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to take part. Sessions last between 30 and 90 minutes and will be held in a variety of languages.

Registration opens on 6 September 2024 - book your spot through the registration platform here.

Explore multilingualism through fun activities in the SPAAK visitors’ centre (10.00-18.00)

GROUND FLOOR

• Talks with interpreters and translators

Gain more insight into interpretation and translation with talks about the different facets of the two professions and multilingualism in general.

Meeting room 0C.11

Talks interpreted into Dutch, English, French, German and Italian.

10.30-11.00: A day in the life of an interpreter
11.10-11.40: A day in the life of a translator
11.50-12.20: Being a translator or an interpreter in the age of AI
12.30-13.15: Multilingualism in democracy - a gateway to a shared European culture and transparency?
Panel discussion with Agnieszka Walter-Drop, Valter Mavrič and Jaume Duch Guillot, Heads of the interpretation, translation and communication services of the European Parliament.

14.45-15.15: How do you become an interpreter or a translator?
15.25-15.55: A day in the life of an interpreter
16.05-16.35: A day in the life of a translator
16.45-17.15: Being a translator or an interpreter in the age of AI

Meeting room 0C.41
Talks without interpretation

11.00-11.45: Traineeships in translation and interpreting at the European Parliament

13.30-14.15: Linguistic horizons of EU enlargement

15.30-16.15: Traineeships in translation and interpreting at the European Parliament

• Photo booth: get your Multilingualism Day souvenir!
• Audio booth: record the news in any of the 24 official EU languages and become an anchor for the day! The audio file is then edited, mixed, and sent to you as an audiogram that you can share with friends and family or on your socials.
• “Write and translate clearly for multimedia content" workshop: discover how to adapt written content for various media formats in a clear and citizen-friendly way, then record in our professional audio booth! Registration required at the Welcome Desk on the ground floor.
• My House of European History recording corner: take a seat and add your European story to this collaborative history project.
• Temporary tattoos: Show your love for languages with a tattoo.
• Europarl Radio: our very own Europarl Radio will be broadcasting live from Multilingualism Day. Tune in for multilingual interviews with translators, interpreters and participants, European music and exclusive insights from the event... wherever you are!
• Be an MEP – Virtual Reality Experience in 24 languages: Jump into virtual reality and immerse yourself in the role of a Member of the European Parliament (learn about the Digital Journey to the European Parliament).

FOURTH FLOOR

• Experience the European Parliament Hemicycle (10.30-17.00, every 30 minutes)

Discover where debates and votes take place. Multilingual presentations with Q&A.

Registration in front of the Hemicycle on the 4th floor.   

• Interpretation booths: try interpreting in our practice booths and get feedback from an interpreter!
• Visit a booth: a guided visit to one of the interpretation booths in the Hemicycle.

Registration on the 4th floor.

• Photo wall: take a photo for a chance to win a prize!
• Language games: Games for kids and adults. Come and test your language skills in a fun way!
• Translation and clear language workshops in English, French, Dutch and German: try your hand at translating with our expert translators, and/or learn the basics of clear language in an interactive way.

Registration needed at the Welcome Desk on the ground floor.

• Translation in action: try your hand at translating a text into your mother tongue by using the tools our translators use and get some tips and tricks from the pros!