The European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) is a Council of Europe institution to which thirty-three countries currently subscribe. The ECML assists its member states in addressing challenges within their national education systems by: 

• promoting innovative approaches to language education; 
• advancing the quality of learning and teaching languages; 
• supporting the implementation of language education policies; 
• fostering dialogue between language education practitioners and decision makers.

The work of the Centre focuses primarily on priority areas in member states such as migration and language education, plurilingual education, mobility and intercultural learning, new media in language education, evaluation and assessment, early language learning, content and language integrated learning, employment and languages. Teacher education is at the core of its work. ECML activities are complementary to those of the Council of Europe’s work related to the development of policies and planning tools in the field of language education and the Secretariat of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Within the framework of its 4-year programmes, the Centre works together with ministries, language experts, national institutions and international language organisations. Through its programmes, the ECML provides a platform for gathering and disseminating information, stimulating discussion and training multipliers in matters related to language education. It also maintains Europe-wide networks for teacher trainers, researchers and educational administrators.