ABSTRACT
In the framework of the ‘European Year of Languages 2001’, the Austrian Academy of Sciences organised the conference ‘The Cost of Multilingualism – Globalisation and Linguistic Diversity’ in Vienna from 7 to 9 June 2001. Special emphasis was placed on the subject of multilingualism in the humanities and sciences. Scholars from 11 countries worked out the below principles and recommendations for the development of a European language policy that has to be supplemented by measures at national and regional levels:
(a) Only if Europe’s linguistic diversity is preserved and promoted will the project of European integration succeed. On the one hand, it is impossible to make foreign language skills a prerequisite for exercising democratic rights. On the other hand, mutual understanding is indispensable for living together.
