The European Commission recently launched a new effort to spur more universities to offer translation courses. This latest initiative comes amid growing concern about future translator shortages in EU language departments. The EC established the European Masters in Translation (EMT) last year in response to an accelerating demand for language services. Between 2004 to 2007, the number of official EU languages more than doubled The EC announcement stated that the EMT university network will be enlarged to help the European market respond "to a growing shortage of properly qualified translators in the job market." Currently, the network has 34 members, but the Commission says that nearly 250 universities offer translation courses across the EU. "The long-term aim of the EMT project [is] to raise the standard of translator training," says Androulla Vassiliou, the EU's commissioner for education, multilingualism, training, and youth. Vassiliou adds that “In many countries, anyone can claim to be a translator without any guarantee of professional competence.” EMT courses are designed to train linguists in skills for the modern job market, including project management, negotiation, and entrepreneurship. EU institutions spend about 1 billion euros a year on translation and interpreting services. Nearly three-quarters of EU documents are originally written in English, 12 percent in French, and 3 percent in German. Commissioner Vassiliou predicts that the EU's languages sector increase its turnover by 10 percent annually and will be valued at as much as 20 billion euros by 2015. Many personnel in the EU institutions' languages departments are nearing retirement, yet the vacated positions are not being filled at the same rate. In addition, the EU's requirements are so rigorous that less than one-third of applicants are successful. The commission says it regards linguistic diversity as a core value of the EU. It provides 50 million euros a year in support of language activities and projects.
EurActiv (Belgium) (10/13/10)
