6–8 November 2024, Brussels

The heads of the Translation Coordination units (TCUs) had a remarkable and busy three days at the Translating Europe Forum 2024, the largest conference on translation in Europe, held in Brussels. In close collaboration with the Directorate-General for Translation (DGT) of the European Commission, ReSPA facilitated the participation of public servants from the TCUs of the Western Balkans. The event provided a unique platform for translation professionals and stakeholders to discuss the dynamic shifts in language services, focusing on emerging trends and transformative technologies.

This year’s Forum, rightly themed "Words Matter – in Texts, but Also as Linguistic Data and in Termbases," addressed the changing landscape of the translation profession and how data and advanced digital tools are reshaping workflows. A key highlight was the growing influence of Generative AI on translation practices, with expert discussions centred on the potential of AI to enhance productivity and the implications for translators worldwide.

As part of the Forum's agenda, ReSPA’s Programme Coordinator, Genti Xhaxhiu, contributed to a panel discussion on "Building Translation Capacity in Candidate Countries: New Opportunities for the Language Industry." Genti underscored the specialized skill set required to translate EU law accurately and effectively. "Translating EU legislation is more than just language proficiency; it requires an in-depth understanding of legal context and meticulous attention to terminology. In addition, it can be a catalysator for an accelerated accession path". He emphasized ReSPA's commitment to supporting the TCUs in the Western Balkans by enhancing their skills in advanced legal translation, quality assurance, and the integration of Artificial Intelligence into translation workflows.

The Forum also served as an invaluable networking opportunity, with the Western Balkans delegation holding a side meeting with DGT Director-General Christos Ellinides, as well as with representatives from DG NEAR and the European Commission’s Legal Service. These discussions highlighted the importance of ensuring timely and high-quality translation and transposition of EU laws in the Western Balkans. DGT reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the region, sharing insights from previous enlargement rounds, and offering technical assistance in linguistic and technological advancements, including the application of AI. The Heads of the TCUs actively participated in the sessions and side meetings. Each provided valuable insights, sharing regional challenges and exchanging views on current issues in the translation field.

The participation at the Translating Europe Forum 2024 marked a continuation of an intensive, multi-module capacity-building program led by DGT and ReSPA, focused on enhancing the translation capabilities of the Western Balkans.