The freely downloadable publication ‘A history of translation at the European Commission‘ describes eight decades of fundamental work.

I quote: “The history of translation at the European Commission is primarily polymaths and European citizens recruited from all corners of the EU. DGT staff have contributed their expertise, their care for the quality of language and their creativity. They are our unsung heroes. To put it straight, the EU would have been – and is – unthinkable without translation.“

The publication “traces the development of the European Commission’s translation service, from the Commission’s creation as part of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in the early 1950s to its place in today’s European Union (EU). The Directorate-General for Translation (DGT) enables the European Commission to propose legislation, issue and implement decisions, and communicate its work to the public in all 24 official languages with clarity and precision. This document pays tribute to the work performed by DGT’s staff since the 1950s. It describes how the service has grown and developed and looks back over achievements.”

The lastest edition can be downloaded here.