The European Conference on Plurilingualism (https://assises. observatoireplurilinguisme.eu/accueil), organized since 2005 by the European Observatory on Plurilingualism, is a triennial event that brings together researchers, public and private decision-makers, civil society actors, economic, social, professional, and educational leaders, and ordinary citizens, to clearly address linguistic issues in terms of their political, educational, cultural, economic, and social implications.
Each edition of the Conference offers a unique perspective. Here is a brief overview of the past events: 2005 and 2009, Paris and Berlin: drafting and proclamation of the European Charter for Plurilingualism; 2012, Rome: Languages Without Borders: Plurilingualism; 2016, Brussels: Plurilingualism and Creativity; 2019, Bucharest: Plurilingualism in Sustainable Development; 2022, Cádiz: Plurilingualism Between Diversity and Universality.
For this 7th edition in Paris on May 20, 21, and 22, we have chosen Plurilingualism and the Circulation of Knowledge, Imaginaries, and Skills. Which Dynamics, Which Vulnerabilities? (https://www.observatoireplurilinguisme.eu/les-actions/les-assises).
These regular meetings have fostered analyses, reflections, and fruitful recommendations that we have extensively documented in the publications of the “Plurilingualism collection" (https://www.observatoireplurilinguisme.eu/les-actions/collection-plurilinguisme).
The Conference organized by the OEP is part of a broader movement. The vast field of linguistic diversity and plurilingualism has established itself in research and public debate over the past twenty years as a field in its own right, transcending academic categorizations. This profound movement, drawing from diverse sources yet intellectually structured, is explored in the reference work recently published by the OEP under the title “From Babel to AI: Plurilingualism according to Dante, Humboldt, Eco, and Others.”
The European Conference on Plurilingualism aims not only to be a scientific event but also at influencing policy by drawing on research findings and practical experience. On the occasion of this event, all stakeholders in plurilingualism can demonstrate their commitment to a collective approach through their presence and support.
Unlike many conferences with pre-determined frameworks, it is the submitted abstracts that largely determine the thematic focus within the general theme set by the call for papers.
Let us therefore examine the three main themes around which fifteen roundtables and more than 70 presentations will be organized during these European Plurilingualism Conference, hosted by Paris 8 University on May 20, 21, and 22, 2026.
- Plurilingualism as a reference value
Linking education and democracy is nothing new. However, adding plurilingualism and creativity to this equation constitutes a fundamental innovation and an essential component of the multilingual project. It is important to recall that, over the centuries, plurilingualism has primarily been a reality across a wide variety of contexts. These contexts have often been sites of conflict, but have also proven to be powerful drivers of transmission and creation. Politics are never absent from this, and even if their role is complex, counterintuitive, ambiguous, and contestable, it can prove decisive. Three roundtables will be dedicated to this theme:
- Plurilingualism, School, Creativity, and Democracy
- Multilingual Language Policies
- Plurilingualism in Teacher Training
- The Francophonie in the Transmission and Circulation of Knowledge and Imagination
The Francophonie, as a linguistic area—beyond being part of the OEP’s DNA—possesses the distinct characteristic of being largely multilingual with multiple nuances. The countries and territories that share the French language across the African, Asian, and Oceanic continents are, without exaggeration, intrinsically multilingual. Conversely, the “Western” world, including its French-speaking part, has—with rare exceptions—been ideologically monolingual for centuries, permeated by two misconceptions: first, that everything can be expressed in a single language, a myth that persists; and second, that political unity can only be achieved through language, confusing a single language with a common language. However, the Western world is slowly but surely moving away from this model, as we will see through five roundtable discussions:
- Literature in the Transmission and Creation
- The Discoverability of Local Knowledge: A Sustainable Development Issue
- The challenge of bi-plurilingualism in Africa
- Language dynamics in a multilingual Francophonie
- Overseas territories, linguistic and cultural diversity, the French language and regional languages: what place and role do they play within the Francophonie across five continents? (proposed by our partner I-Dialogos)
Understanding and reflecting on the Francophonie is a profoundly fruitful endeavor that must not only help sustain it as a linguistic community but also, and above all, fully engage it in the civilizational challenges we all face. If the Western world is slowly but surely moving away from the monolingual model, it is due to various factors, the foremost of which is the increase in migration flows.
- Plurilingualism and Societal and Cultural Challenges
Migration, which is one of the challenges facing modern societies, inevitably reignites questions related to plurilingualism. Plurilingualism and societal challenges will be the focus of the third major thematic theme of this conference, which will feature a wonderful series of five roundtables. The final roundtable, organized by Le Monde diplomatique, will be dedicated to the media and freedom of expression: In this 7th edition of the European Conference on Plurilingualism, the OEP is supported by numerous partners whom we sincerely thank, including the Ministry of Culture (DGLFLF)1, UPLEGESS2, OPA3, OBDLCI4, POCLANDE5, I-DIALOGOS6, ACAREF7, CLES8, and Le Monde diplomatique9.
- Languages and Migration in Western Societies
- Plurilingualism in Higher Education
- Plurilingualism: A Major Challenge for the Internet and AI (proposed by our partner, the Observatory of Linguistic and Cultural Diversity on the Internet, OBDLCI)
- Open science, a civilizational challenge
- Media, plurilingualism, freedom of speech, and the fight against disinformation (proposed by our partner Le Monde diplomatique)
1 General Delegation for the French Language and the Languages of France. https://www.culture.gouv.fr/nous-connaitre/organisation-du-ministere/la-delegation-generale-a-la-langue-francaise-et-aux-langues-de-france
2 Union of Language Teachers at Grandes Écoles and in Higher Education. https://www.uplegess.com/
3 Observatory of Plurilingualism in Africa. https://plurilinguismeafricain.org/
4 Observatory of Linguistic and Cultural Diversity on the Internet. https://www.obdilci.org/fr/
5 Population, Cultures, Languages, and Development. https://www.poclande.fr/
6 Think Tank “Peoples and Citizens of the World”. https://www.i-dialogos.com/
7 Africianes Academy of Francophone Research and Studies. https://revues.acaref.net/
8 Network for Language Proficiency Certification in Higher Education. https://www.certification-cles.fr/