Bridging Languages, Building Europe: The role of translation in the EU

Abstract

The European Union (EU) is a unique political and institutional entity in the world, characterized by rich linguistic diversity. With 24 official languages, ensuring mutual understanding and citizen participation requires complex tools, among which translation plays a central role. This work explores how translation is fundamental to the democratic functioning of the EU, guaranteeing inclusion, transparency, and access to information.

Democracy is based on the active participation of citizens to political life and on their right to understand and influence political decisions. In a multilingual context like that of the EU, ensuring that every citizen can access documents and debates in their own language is essential. Without translation, a large part of the population would be excluded from European political life.

To analyze the foundational role of translation within the democratic process—as a guarantor of multilingualism and the cultural richness it brings—this study will examine the EU's legal framework and its implementation through the European funds allocated for translation services, as well as the daily role of the EU’s translation services. It will highlight how these services make a practical reality for European citizens of what the treaties define in normative theory.