Translation Service (SDT)

The European Commission's Translation Service is the largest in the world. Located in Brussels and Luxembourg, it has a permanent staff of some 1 300 linguists and 500 support staff, and also uses freelance translators all over the world. Known as the SdT after its French initials, the Service translates written text into and out of all the EU's 11 official languages, exclusively for the European Commission. Oral interpretation is the responsibility of the separate Joint Interpreting and Conference Service.