The European Centre for Modern Languages was honoured to play host to a visit from Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), on 26 September.  He was accompanied by Christian Buchmann, member of the Austrian Parliament and of PACE. The visit coincided with the 2024 European Day of Languages (EDL) - to mark the occasion Mr Rousopoulos delivered a speech at the opening  of the annual EDL Sprachenfest (languages festival) in Graz,  which was celebrated by over 2,000 visitors around the area of the city museum.

During his visit he highlighted the importance of Europe’s linguistic diversity and the need to encourage the learning of languages, not only among the younger generations, but also through lifelong learning. The Parliamentary Assembly has several times stressed that language is in itself a value, and is one of Europe’s unique cultural assets. Learning a language represents a symbol of openness towards another culture. 

Mr Rousopoulos, praised the work of the ECML and pledged the support of PACE in the future actions of the Centre.