Press Release: European Day of Languages highlights benefits of multilingualism for small businesses

It is estimated that 11% of small and medium-sized businesses lose contracts due to a lack language skills. The cost of these missed opportunities can run into millions of euro and threaten jobs. This year’s European Day of Languages, which takes place on and around 26 September 2010, will focus on languages for business. On 24 September, Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, will address a conference in Brussels on ‘Languages for SMEs’ and meet representatives of European businesses whose language skills have translated into profits. With its 23 official languages and over 40 regional and minority languages, the EU forms a unique multilingual community of countries and people. The European Day of Languages was launched in 2001 to celebrate this diversity and to highlight the importance of languages in our private and professional lives.

Eurostat: News Release No.139, 2010: In the EU, nearly 80% of children were studying a foreign language at primary school in 2008 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-press-releases/-/3-24092010-AP

European Commission: Memo/10/438: European Day of Languages - Events in the EU Countries http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/438&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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