Language demands translate into huge bill

Date: 01/08/02

By Martin Banks

THE European Union's institutions face a €235 million bill for hiring extra translators and interpreters to cope with the additional workload resulting from expansion of the EU, it has been revealed.

It is estimated that some 1,800 new staff will be needed, with the number of 'official' languages used by the institutions set to rise from 11 to 20 after applicant states join the Union.

But some experts are concerned that, even with the injection of fresh blood and additional funding, the system could soon become unworkable unless it is reformed.

Most, however, agree that the cost of expanding the translation service represents good value for money.

UK Liberal MEP Chris Huhne, who has just received a detailed breakdown of the figures involved from Budget Commissioner Michaele Schreyer, said: 'It appears a lot but, in reality, it is a relatively small amount.'

That view was echoed by Eric Mamer, spokesman for Commission Vice-President Neil Kinnock: 'The right of every member state to use its language has to be sustained; it is a basic democratic right. The current cost of the languages service is only €2 per person a year. That won't change much.'

At present, the Commission employs 700 interpreters, both full-time and freelance, to cover meetings and press conferences. Of its 1,300 translators responsible for producing its documents in 11 languages, 20 are freelance.

In all, the institution plans to recruit 3,800 staff between 2003 and 2008 - including the 1,800 new translators and interpreters - at a total cost of about €367 million, to cope with enlargement. Most will be based in Brussels and Luxembourg, although some will be at its offices in member states.

Schreyer has estimated that the cost for additional translators will rise from €31 million in 2003 to €175 million in 2006. The sums involved for interpreters rise from €7.5 million to €60 million over the corresponding period.

Michael Emerson, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies, readily accepts that translators will always be needed in each of the official languages for high-ranking occasions such as EU summits and ministerial meetings.

But he adds: 'Beyond that we have to find ways of slimming down the whole system, otherwise it will become increasingly difficult to run it effectively and efficiently.'

He says that, post-enlargement, the number of documents translated into all 20 languages should be kept to a minimum. 'The Commission's working groups could also be more economical in their use of translators. There are many Commission meetings that could easily get by with one or two languages at the most.'

Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, a UK-based think- tank, agrees, saying: 'The working languages used by EU institutions - English, French and German - should be used more frequently.'

Huhne, a member of the European Parliament's economic and monetary affairs committee, said: 'It's important we put this into perspective. The €235 million needed for the translation service by 2006 seems a lot but is, in fact, quite small when compared with the EU's budget which by then is predicted to be €144 billion.'

The European Union's institutions face a €235 million bill for hiring extra translators and interpreters to cope with the additional workload resulting from expansion of the EU. It is estimated that some 1,800 new staff will be needed, with the number of 'official' languages used by the institutions set to rise from 11 to 20 after applicant states join the Union.