Expanding language learning opportunities

The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a Decision of Parliament and the Council establishing 2001 as European Year of Languages. This initiative, which the Commission proposes to provide with a budget of EUR 8 million, will consist of a series of information campaigns and the co-financing of local, regional, national and transnational projects. This campaign, which will target the general public, will be coordinated with the Council of Europe initiative, this institution having already declared 2001 to be European Year of Languages. "The ability to speak one or more foreign languages opens up new opportunities for Europeans", said Ms Viviane Reding, Member of the Commission with special responsibility for Education and Culture, adding that Europe "will always have great linguistic wealth and the European Year of Languages in 2001 will be part of this diversity".