Translating for the European Commission Francisco De Vicente, Director Directorate for Translation Strategy and Multilingualism, DGT

Contents  Multilingualism in the world (slides 3-6)  Translating for a multilingual European Union (slides 3-16)  DG Translation within the European Commission (slides 17-37)  Working in and with DG Translation (slides 38-49)  In conclusion… (slides 50-51)

Multilingualism in the world

What is multilingualism? several languages spoken within a geographical area; a person’s ability to master several languages; a policy requiring an organisation/ a company/an institution to use several languages for communication

Languages mean jobs! Language industry: worth 8.4 billion EUR in 2008, 10% annual growth, 15 billion EUR in 2015?

Translating for a multilingual European Union

EU official languages over time

Linguists in the EU Council Parliament Court of Justice Court of Auditors Economic & Social Committee Committee of the Regions Translators: ± 4300 European Central Bank Translation Centre Interpreters: ± 1000

Translators in the EU institutions Council of the EU European Commission Court of Justice Court of Auditors Economic & Social Committee European Parliament

We translate from and into all the EU’s 23 official languages

…and cover all subject areas

The legal basis Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Citizens have a right to address the official EU bodies in any of the EU’s official languages and to receive a reply in that language. Council Regulation No 1/58 Regulations and other documents of general application shall be drafted in the official languages.

Translation and democracy Thanks to translation, people can help build the European Union and contribute to its openness and legitimacy.

Translation as part of the legislative process Translation is central to the legislative process Translation and editing contribute to better regulation

Types of languages Official/working/Treaty languages: 23 Procedural languages: English, French, German Additional languages: Basque, Catalan, Galician, Scottish Gaelic and Welsh

Additional languages UK or SpainCommission Citizens Commission Services Designated body Translation Reply in the „regional” language Written communication in the „regional” language Original mail + translation into official language Reply in the official language

DG Translation in the European Commission

European Commission Initiates new legislation Implements EU policies and supervises compliance with EU law

DG Translation Some 2500 translators and support staff 50% in Brussels 50% in Luxembourg Field Offices in Member States

Organisation

Over 2 million pages translated in 2011 Growth in the number of translated pages

Language of original documents (%) English French German Others

Number of translated pages 2011 by target language (%)

Main document types

Our services Translation of confidential texts

Traditional translation aids Contact with customers/other translators Contact with experts in the Commission, the other institutions or the Member States Libraries (Brussels and Luxembourg) Reference works

Electronic translation tools Terminology IATE (public) EUR-Lex (public) Quest Metasearch DGT Vista Electronic dictionaries, glossaries, Google, Wikipedia, etc. Translation tools Translation memories, Euramis Speech recognition Machine translation

EUR-Lex: free public access to EU law eur-lex.europa.eu

IATE: public multilingual term base iate.europa.eu

Quality assurance 1. Before translation: editing of originals, Clear Writing campaign and training, preparatory work 2. During translation: translation aids and tools, information sharing (Note/Elise) 3. After translation: revision/review/spot-checking; evaluation; feedback

What else do we do? Links with schools and universities Machine translation LIND-Web Studies Terminology and tools European Day of Languages Visiting Translator Scheme

Mutual interest, mutual benefit DGT translators spend 1-4 weeks at a university or a public institution in their own or another country Exchange of knowledge, experience and good practices

European Day of Languages 26 September

Localising the EU’s message

Cost of multilingualism Translation and interpreting in all EU institutions put together cost each EU citizen just over 2 euros per year. The cost of multilingualism adds up to less than 1% of the annual EU budget.

Cost of translation Challenge: doing more with less Improving cost-effectiveness Prioritisation – translation strategy Fit-for-purpose translation Machine translation, other tools Outsourcing Why have in-house translation?

Challenges ahead Future EU enlargements and related staff matters Doing more with less Modernity: efficiency gains by developing tools Recruitment: replacing retiring staff and attracting new translators

Working in and with DG Translation

Job opportunities Permanent job (EU official) Contract staff External contractor (freelance) Trainee

Recruitment competitions for EU officials Publication: Official Journal of the European Union (C edition) EPSO (European Personnel Selection Office) website Selection procedure: 5 to 9 months

Recruitment criteria You must be an EU citizen You must hold a full university degree in languages or another field (minimum BA) No professional experience is required

Language knowledge Perfect command of your main language or mother tongue Very sound knowledge of English or German or French (first source language) Very sound knowledge of a second source language among the EU’s official languages

Other skills People with non-language degrees please apply! Translator profile and skills needed: see ec.europa.eu/dgs/translation/workwithus/staff/profile

The competition process Apply online (July for translators) Pre-selection test (numerical, verbal & abstract reasoning) Translation tests, group exercise, structured interview, oral presentation

What can the Commission offer you? €4500/month starting salary Good leave entitlement Varied and challenging work with scope to shape your own career in the Commission Excellent language learning opportunities Job security Multicultural environment Flexible working-time arrangements

Contract staff Special calls for contract staff For more information, check regularly ec.europa.eu/dgs/translation/workwithus

Translation outsourcing Documents of all kinds are outsourced… … EXCEPT urgent, politically sensitive or confidential documents Certain specialised documents if no in-house capacity Non-EU languages if no in-house capacity 28 % of DGT’s total output was outsourced in 2011.

How to become a contractor? The only way: respond to a call for tenders and have your bid accepted Calls for tenders for translation services are published in the Official Journal and on our website ec.europa.eu/dgs/translation/workwithus/ contractor

Duration: 5 months Two rounds per year, starting in March and October For university graduates only For EU citizens – but a quota for other countries’ nationals Competence: able to translate from two EU languages into your main language Monthly grant Traineeships

More information? Web: ec.europa.eu/dgs/translation Facebook.com/translatingforeurope

Thank you for your attention!