The Language Regime of the European Union: A Tool of Bureaucratic Representation?

The paper presents an analysis of the language regime of the European Union (EU) institutions from the point of view of the theory of representative bureaucracy. It shows that EU institutions do not just achieve representativeness with regards to nationality, but also with regards to language. Further, the paper will show that the language regime can be said to address the representativeness of the EU not just vis-à-vis the member states but also vis-à-vis EU citizens. This sets language apart from other criteria of representation. While the nationality of EU staff is normally not perceivable by citizens due to the lack of street level bureaucrats, the language regime has a visible impact for all EU citizens: they can communicate with EU institutions in the language of their choice. Further, EU official documents and legislation are accessible in 24 official languages which makes the EU’s language regime the most ambitious one among international organizations. Analyzing the EU’s language regime from the point of view of the theory of representative bureaucracy allows reflecting on some of the core values of the EU’s bureaucracy in particular in terms of diversity and inclusiveness and on how these values contribute to the diffusion of the overall political values of the EUropolity.