"Language diversity is a challenge for Europe, but a challenge which we regard as healthy". And more: "There is a clear connection between language diversity and European integration". Those are two of the remarks made by the group of experts entrusted by the Commission with a study in this field last year. Today, the group presided over by Amin Maalouf, journalist and writer, presented a report named "A gratifying challenge". It includes the proposals submitted in relation to "2008, The European Year of Intercultural Dialogue", on the "way through which languages may encourage mutual dialogue and understanding". The conclusions and the approach "fostered by intellectual experts stated Commissioner Leonard Orban will enliven the international conference scheduled next February 15th"; furthermore, "the presented proposals correspond to the desire, expressed in Barcelona by the EU heads of state and government in 2002, to work things in such a way that education in the 27 Member States will include one’s native language plus another two languages". The entire text of the report is available in 22 languages at the site: http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/languages_en.html.
