European Day of Languages was declared by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe an annual event to be celebrated on 26 September. AEGEE-Tirane will join this celebration on 19th of November, as 26 September is not a suitable date for higher education students.

The European Centre of Modern Languages collaborates with the Council of Europe and we are given this opportunity as result of the CoE’s support to our activities within EDL 2003.

Why do we need a European Day of Languages?

While many people agree that everyone should be able to speak another language, in many countries only about half can do so. There have never been more opportunities to work or study in a different European country - but lack of language competence prevents many people from taking advantage of them. Globalisation and patterns of business ownership mean that citizens increasingly need foreign language skills to work effectively within their own countries.

Europe is rich in languages - there are over 200 European languages and many more spoken by citizens whose family origin is from other continents. This is an important resource to be recognised, used and cherished.

Language learning brings benefits to young and old - you are never too old to learn a language and to enjoy the opportunities it opens up. Learning other peoples' languages is a way of helping us to understand each other better and overcome our cultural differences.

What are the aims of the European Day of Languages?

• To alert the public to the importance of language learning
• To increase awareness and appreciation of ALL the languages spoken in Europe
• To encourage lifelong language learning