Brussels, 04/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - Faced with a potential crisis in finding new conference interpreters for certain languages, including French, and shortages for several other languages, the interpretation services of the European institutions have organised an awareness-raising campaign aimed at young people. The campaign, launched simultaneously in Paris, Brussels and Luxembourg on 23 September last, continues this week with the Expolangues Salon in Paris, from 3 to 6 February. The EU interpretation services will be present throughout with a stand - “Interpreting for Europe” - where members of the public can try interpreting easy speeches in a real interpreting booth.
With no increase in the number of qualified graduates from interpreting schools and universities, and with many existing staff soon to retire, the European Commission, European Parliament and the EU Court of Justice will lose nearly half of their French-speaking conference interpreters within the next decade. This is why the three services have produced a video clip for French-speaking young people to promote this profession that has so much to offer. It is visible on: http: //http://www.youtube.com/watchv=YrgdukWVaGE (I.L./transl.jl)