Do the European Institutions really need language diversity?

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Conor Brummell
explores the topic of multilingualism within the European Union.
He is joined by language experts Margo Sjis, Head of the Dutch
Unit in DG Interpretation of the European Commission and Merje
Laht, Head of the Estonian Unit in DG Interpretation of the
European Commission and Aislínn McCrory, Head of the Irish
Translations Unit in the European Commission. 

Each of the language experts explain the historical, cultural,
and political importance of their native tongues, before diving
into the need for language diversity within the European
institutions, which play a vital role in preserving and promoting
European languages. They speak about the technical skills
required for translation and interpretation and the importance of
these services for inclusivity and democratic participation in
the EU. 

Finally, the conversation culminates with the language experts
giving their insights on English becoming the lingua franca of
the EU, and the cost to democracy if translation and
interpretation services were removed from the European
institutions.