As part of the Mercredis du Conseil de l’Europe thematic conferences, the Council of Europe’s Language Policy and Practice Division within the Education Department, in cooperation with the Collectivité européenne d’Alsace, took part in a round table discussion with the title  “Plurilingualism: challenges, benefits and perspectives in Europe and in Alsace” on Thursday 20 November 2025, from 18:30 to 20:00 at the Hôtel d’Alsace in Strasbourg.

Open to the public, the event explored the many dimensions of plurilingualism, with a round table bringing together diverse perspectives from education, research and the media. Sarah Breslin, Executive Director of the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) and Head of Language Policy at the Council of Europe, opened the exchange by highlighting the Organisation’s commitment to plurilingual and intercultural education, showing how it supports democratic participation and social inclusion. The conversation was enriched by Andrea Young and Maria Zerva from the University of Strasbourg, and Fanny Klipfel from France 3 Grand Est, who shared insights on teacher education, the links between plurilingualism and identity, and the promotion of regional languages such as Alsatian through public media. Audience interaction brought out both the benefits and practical challenges of strengthening plurilingualism locally and across Europe.

The conference was conducted in French, with interpretation into Alsatian, reflecting the efforts to promote linguistic diversity in the region and in Europe.

In conjunction with the event, the exhibition "Language education at the heart of democracy", organised by the ECML and the Language Policy Programme of the Council of Europe, was on display in the hall of the Hôtel d’Alsace from 17 to 24 November 2025. The exhibition showcases inspiring projects, innovative resources and real-life stories illustrating the transformative power of language education.

Through this initiative, the Council of Europe reaffirms its long-standing commitment to promoting plurilingualism, engaging with the public on the benefits and challenges associated with it, from both a European and a local perspective.