Council of Europe language education policy

The maintenance and development of linguistic and cultural diversity is a Council of Europe aim, enshrined in the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages on Minority languages in a typically cautious fashion. There has been some backlash recently against societal multiculturalism as divisive, reinforcing separatism and blocking the integration of immigrants and encouraging ghetto formation. Here the concepts of plurilingualism and pluriculturalism are of real value, since they take a holistic view of linguistic and cultural competence, to which all linguistic and cultural experience contribute.
Both at individual and societal levels the concept is dynamic, since the components from the experience of different language and cultures interpenetrate and interact, forming something new, enriched and in continual development. This approach meets better the realities of globalisation than various forms of purism which regard each language and culture as a separate entity, to be preserved and protected against the threat offered by alien forces.
The Council of Europe’s activities to promote linguistic diversity and language learning in the field of education are carried out within the framework of article 2 of the European Cultural Convention, which commits the states party to the Convention to promote the reciprocal teaching and learning of their languages. More...