Clear writing for Europe, Brussels

Berlaymontgebouw in Brussel
Kevin Bergenhenegouwen
date December 5, 2019 08:30 - 17:30
city Brussels, Belgium
location Berlaymont building (BERL) i Show location
organisation European Commission (EC) i

This conference is being hosted by the team within the Commission’s Directorate-General for Translation behind the clear writing campaign. We edit texts drafted in-house, and provide training and online clear writing resources.

Clear writing for Europe will be a chance to exchange ideas for ways to communicate more clearly in writing with the citizens of Europe, to share experiences and to learn about the European Commission’s work in this area.

The European Commission would like to invite people involved in plain language from all Member States to participate in this event. With the speakers from the EU institutions and panellists from across the EU, Clear writing for Europe will be an opportunity to celebrate clear writing, exchange best practices, and learn about achievements, ideas and campaigns to encourage clearer communication.

The conference will mark the 10th anniversary of the Commission’s clear writing campaign. Through publications such as How to write clearly, the campaign aims to help everyone in the Commission to write shorter, simpler, jargon-free texts. This event will also be a chance to look to the future and to what we can all to do to promote a clear writing culture in Europe in the decade to come.

Practical information

When

Thursday 5 December 2019, 8.30 - 17.30 (CET)

Where

Berlaymont Building

Rue de la Loi 200

1049 Brussels

Belgium

Languages

English

Number of places

100

Registration fee

n/a

Who should attend

Clear writing representatives from all Member States

Organiser

Translation

Agenda

  • - 
    08.30 - 09.00 (Europe/Brussels)

    Registration and coffee

  • - 
    09.00 - 09.20

    Welcome and reflections on clear writing in the European Commission 10 years after the campaign was launched

    • - 
      Rytis Martikonis, Director-General for Translation
    • - 
      Karl-Johan Lönnroth, former Director-General for Translation
  • - 
    09.20 - 10.30

    Taking the frustration out of administration — clear writing in the public sector

    Panel discussion moderated by Rosie ter Beek, Editing unit, DG Translation

    Panellists:

    • - 
      Katrin Hallik Selge Sõnum, Estonia
    • - 
      Barbara Altomonte Presidency of Council Matters, Italy
    • - 
      Johan Van Hoorde Taalunie, Netherlands
    • - 
      Dirk Caluwé Heerlijk Helder, Belgium
    • - 
      Thomas François Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium
  • - 
    10.30 - 10.50

    Coffee break

  • - 
    10.50 - 12.30

    Clear writing — measuring impact and success

    Panel discussion moderated by Anne-Mette Jensen-Foreman, Joint Research Centre’s Clear Writers’ network, European Commission

    Opening by: Margrethe Kvarenes, President of the Plain Language Association International (PLAIN)

    Panellists:

    • - 
      Maciej Ogrodniczuk Jasnopis, Poland
    • - 
      Benedikt Lutz Donau-Universität Krems, Austria
    • - 
      Jurgita Jaroslavienė Institute of the Lithuanian Language, Lithuania
    • - 
      Sandra Fisher-Martins Claro, Portugal
  • - 
    12.30 - 14.00

    Buffet lunch

  • - 
    14.00 - 15.30

    Communicating legislation and making it more accessible to a broad public

    Panel discussion moderated by Cathy Waibel, Head of Editing, DG Translation, European Parliament

    Opening by Ülle Madise, Chancellor of Justice, Estonia

    Panellists:

    • - 
      Daina Vaivare Legal Acts’ Editorial Department at the State Chancellery, Latvia
    • - 
      Louise Wassdahl Riksdag (Parliament), Sweden
    • - 
      Giles Goodall Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, European Commission
  • - 
    15.30 - 15.45

    Coffee break

  • - 
    15.45 - 16.15

    Celebrating clear writing as part of our working culture and closing remarks

    Ilze Juhansone, interim Secretary-General of the European Commission and Rytis Martikonis, Director-General for Translation

  • - 
    16.15 - 17.15

    Clear Writing Awards ceremony

    Presentation of 2019 Clear Writing Awards

    Ilze Juhansone, acting Secretary-General and Rytis Martikonis, Director-General for Translation

  • - 
    17.15 - 17.25

    Presentation of Noble Prize

    • - 
      David Baker, Head of Editing Unit, DG Translation
    • - 
      Jackie Morin Head of French language department
    • - 
      Levke King-Elsner Head of German translation uni
  • - 
    17.25 - 17.30

    Musical finale

    Claire's Weather Girls

Contact

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Contents

  1. European Commission (EC)
  2. More about...

1.

European Commission (EC)

The European Commission is the executive body of the EU and runs its day-to-day business. It is made up of the College of Commissioners, 27 European Commissioners, one for each member state, who are each responsible for one or several policy areas. In addition, the 'Commission' also refers to the entire administrative body that supports the Commissioners, consisting of the Directorates-General and the Services.

The European Commission is the sole EU body capable of proposing new legislation. The Commission also performs an oversight function, monitoring whether European legislation is properly implemented in the member states. In the event of non-compliance, the Commission can coerce a member state to comply by starting a legal procedure at the European Court of Justice.

2.

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