Press Release: Barcelona hosts the 5th edition of the NPLD-Coppieters Campus with a theme focused on digitalisation, artificial intelligence and languages.

The Network to Promote Linguistic Diversity (NPLD) celebrated the 5th edition of the NPLD-Coppieters Campus in Barcelona from November 13th to 15th. The NPLD-Coppieters Campus is an initiative launched by the NPLD and the Coppieters Foundation that counted on the decisive support of the Government of Catalonia in this year’s edition. The Minister for External Action and European Union, Jaume Duch, addressed the welcoming words on the first day of the sessions of the Campus, and the Minister for Language Policy, Francesc Xavier Vila, delivered a speech on “Public Language Policies in Catalonia” in the context of the digital world.

The event welcomed over 120 participants, including 70 experts, researchers, and representatives of European governments from 14 jurisdictions, such as Ireland, the Basque Country, Sweden, the Province of Trento, and Wales.

At this year’s Campus, discussions revolved around the impact of digitalisation and artificial intelligence on languages. The event showcased innovative approaches and research projects aimed at securing a place for linguistic diversity in the digital world. It highlighted successful government initiatives that enhance digital presence and explored tools that make Artificial Intelligence accessible to smaller language communities.

The NPLD Steering Committee also held a brief session in Barcelona to discuss ongoing projects and upcoming initiatives, setting the stage for further cooperation between the governments represented. The Government of Catalonia is one of the most active members of the NPLD and has led several initiatives before the European institutions and the Council of Europe.

The NPLD looks forward to continuing these discussions and building on the momentum at next year’s Campus in Leeuwarden (The Netherlands).

The NPLD is a European network with government representatives, institutions, and NGOs supporting Europe’s Constitutional, Regional, and Small-State Languages. With members from over 20 European territories, the NPLD represents diverse linguistic communities, including languages like Catalan, Frisian, Irish, Breton, Basque or Welsh. By fostering collaboration and policy exchange, the NPLD advocates for the importance of linguistic diversity at the European level.