France is pushing back against a European Commission proposal to use only English-language versions of trade agreements during ratification to speed up the process.
Key facts
- •The Commission proposes translating agreements into all 24 official languages only after ratification is complete.
- •Maroš Šefčovič stated that the current process can take up to 2.5 years after negotiations conclude before businesses can operate in partner countries.
- •At least seven member states expressed support for the English-only proposal during a meeting in February.
- •The European Commission maintains on its website that linguistic diversity is essential to its institutional work.
- •French officials argue that the move could undermine the status of French and create transparency issues for national parliaments.
The European Commission is considering a plan to fast-track trade agreements by using only English-language versions during negotiations with EU governments and lawmakers, bypassing the standard translation into all 24 official EU languages. France has signaled strong opposition to the move, citing concerns over the status of French as an official working language and the potential impact on democratic transparency.
By the numbers
Rationale for the Proposal
The Commission aims to accelerate the ratification process, which can currently take months due to the legal scrubbing and translation requirements. Trade chief Maroš Šefčovič noted that the EU has lost an estimated €300 billion in GDP and over €200 billion in export opportunities due to delays in implementing the EU–Mercosur trade deal. Šefčovič suggested that the trade deal with India, concluded on 27 January, could serve as a test case for the English-only approach.
French Opposition and Legal Concerns
French officials have stated that Paris will vigorously oppose the plan, arguing that it raises significant legal and democratic issues. They emphasize that French is one of the EU's three official working languages and that the proposal threatens the bloc's commitment to linguistic diversity. Experts in language policy have also warned that relying solely on English could hinder the ability of national and European parliamentarians to properly review and understand complex trade agreements.
Timeline
- 27 JanuaryThe EU concluded a trade deal with India.
- FebruaryTrade chief Maroš Šefčovič discussed the English-only proposal with EU trade ministers.
- 20 FebruaryŠefčovič spoke to journalists regarding the economic impact of trade deal delays.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Euronews Business.
