Goal: Encourage learners to connect with the wider European plain language movement.
Clear communication is a shared challenge across Europe. Whether it’s about public services, education, or rights, people in every country need information they can understand and use. That’s why more and more European organisations and institutions are working together to develop and promote plain language at a continental level.
The Text it Easy project is one example of this cooperation. It connects partners from Croatia, North Macedonia, Belgium, France, and Romania, each bringing different expertise—from education and literacy to disability rights and digital tools. Together, they aim to make clear communication a reality in schools, services, and everyday life.
At the European level, several larger networks and initiatives are pushing this work further:
- Clear Writing for Europe is a network of EU civil servants working to improve communication in all official languages. It provides training, tools, and guidance for writing clearly in complex institutional contexts.
- AccessibleEU, launched under the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, supports accessibility in all its forms—including information. It offers events, national contact points, and technical advice.
- Inclusion Europe promotes the use of Easy-to-Read and the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities across the continent, with multilingual resources and a strong focus on co-production.
These networks help organisations share methods, avoid duplication, and align efforts across different countries and sectors. They also offer ways to get involved—through events, training, or joint projects.
Plain language becomes more powerful when it’s part of a wider European conversation. And that conversation is already underway.
Reflection prompt
Why do you think it’s important for plain language efforts to connect across countries? What could you learn from another country’s approach?
Try it
Pick one of the networks mentioned (e.g. AccessibleEU, Inclusion Europe). Visit their website or social media.
Write down one resource or initiative you find useful and how you might apply it in your own context.