From 29 September to 10 October 2025, the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg hosted the exhibition “Language education at the heart of democracy”, organised by the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) and the Language Policy Programme. Coinciding with the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the exhibition highlighted how language education strengthens democracy, social cohesion, and intercultural understanding.

The inauguration on 30 September was opened by the Permanent Representative of Austria to the Council of Europe, Aloisia Wörgetter, and attended by an audience of over 100 parliamentarians and other guests. Speakers included PACE Vice-President Andries Gryffroy (Chair of the Belgian Delegation), Martin Graf (Chair of the Austrian Delegation) and Matthias von Gehlen (Vice-Chair of the ECML Governing Board).

ECML Director Sarah Breslin underlined the central role of languages in both education and democracy:

“Quality language education lies at the heart of democracy. Languages are linked to our identities and to our hearts. And through languages, we can touch the hearts of others.”

The exhibition’s panels developed this message through six key concepts – collaboration, digitalisation, motivation, celebration, inclusion and cohesion – illustrated with examples from the work of the ECML and the Council’s Language Policy Programme.

The exhibition followed on from the 25th European Day of Languages, where Secretary General Alain Berset had highlighted the significance of multilingual education:

“The teaching and learning of multiple languages is not a cultural luxury, but a political necessity – a vital means of bringing the European ideal to life and reinforcing the pluralistic, inclusive, and forward-looking values at the heart of the European project.”

A follow-up meeting hosted by the Austrian Representation also brought together 19 Permanent Representatives and Deputies. Discussions with the ECML Director focused on a wide range of issues, including regional and minority languages, dialects, and the integration of migrant children. The strong turnout reflected the interest in language education as a driver of democratic resilience and social cohesion.

The events further enhanced the visibility of the Graz Centre among political stakeholders, while emphasising the increasingly important role language education has to play in fostering and sustaining inclusive and democratic societies across today’s Europe. 

https://www.ecml.at/en/Events/ECML-exhibition-in-Strasbourg