The European Survey on Language Competences is a major initiative by the European Commission to support the development of language learning policies across Europe. Findings from the first European Survey on Language Competences are presented in the Final Report.

The results from the Survey highlight challenges which need to be tackled by the EU in order to improve language competences in Europe:

1. Language competences still need to be significantly improved, and educational systems must step up their efforts to prepare all pupils for further education and the labour market.
2. Language policies should address the creation of language-friendly living and learning environments inside as well as outside schools and other educational institutions.
3. The Survey points out those educational systems can make a positive difference with an early onset of foreign language learning, increase the number of foreign languages learnt and promote methods enabling pupils and teachers to use foreign languages for meaningful communication in lessons.
4. The importance of the English language as a basic skill and as a tool for employability and professional development requires concrete actions to further improve competences in this language.
5. The need to improve language skills for employability in a globalised world must be combined with the promotion of linguistic diversity and intercultural dialogue.

First European Survey on Language Competences: Final report / European commission. – Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2012. – 249 p. – isbn 9789279253478
English

Executive Summary : English - French - German - Italian - Spanish

Website of the European Commission dedicated to the Survey on Language Competences:

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The European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) of the Council of Europe is currently engaged as a full partner or associate partner in the following cooperation projects involving European Union financing.
ECML involvement in EU projects

The ECML programme 2012-2015 “Learning through languages: Promoting inclusive, plurilingual and intercultural education” focuses on the foreign language classroom, the teaching of the language of schooling, of other languages present in the educational environment and the languages used in subject teaching (formal learning), informal and non-formal language learning and on the dialogue with stakeholders involved in the education process (mediation).
ECML programme 2012-2015