An Action Plan for language learning and linguistic diversity was approved by the Commission in July 2003. It aims to promote a more effective use of the existing programmes (in particular Socrates and Leonardo da Vinci) to underpin a series of specific measures. It sets a framework for Community action that is designed to complement and support action taken by Member States. The Action Plan makes concrete proposals for 45 actions to be undertaken from 2004 to 2006 in three broad areas.

• firstly, the key objective of extending the benefits of language learning to all citizens as a lifelong activity;
• secondly, the need to improve the quality of language teaching at all levels;
• thirdly, the need to build in Europe an environment which is really favourable to languages.

It proposes a series of actions to be taken at European level in 2004 – 2006 with the aim of supporting actions taken by local, regional and national authorities. Taken together, actions proposed, and those taken by Member States, can secure a major step change in promoting language learning and linguistic diversity.

The Action Plan of the European Commission is an opportunity for regional and minority languages, which includes, as part of the main objectives, regional and minority languages in the list of languages taught in the framework of the promotion of language diversity.

The Directorate-General of Education and Culture of the European Commission is the main responsible for the measures proposed to put into practice the Action Plan, including here all the activities of the Union referred to languages.