The first meeting of the “Group of intellectuals and experts in multilingualism” was held in Brussels last week, co-chaired by Commissioner Leonard Orban and the Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf. The Group is composed of ten independent personalities from Lebanon, Denmark, Germany, Morocco, Belgium, Czech Republic, UK, Romania, Spain and Portugal. The European Commission has given it the specific task of “making proposals and recommendations on how languages may promote intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding” in preparation for the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue in 2008. Given that respect for and promotion of linguistic and cultural diversity as a fundamental element of Community integration represents one of the strategic priorities of the EU, the mandate conferred on the Group consists of three key parts: examining how the mastery of foreign languages is able to ensure access to other cultures and contribute to the realization of a society of inclusion; identifying the means of promotion of intercultural dialogue in Europe, bearing in mind the ethical dimensions of a multicultural society; and proposing strategies of communication of the potential for enrichment offered by learning foreign languages and familiarization with different languages and cultures.
