Language is the means of conveying information, notably economic information. The creation of a single european market means that everyone engaged in business should have access to information originating in languages other than their own, and, conversely, that they should be able to communicate with others who do not speak their language. This is the problem of conveying information between languages, i.e. translation.

More exactly, the cost of multilingualism affects european businessmen in two ways:

Producers of goods and services are presented with additional difficulties when exporting, because of the need for translation, with its attendant costs in terms of time and money and consequent reduction in competitiveness.

Consumers of goods and services have increased difficulty in keeping informed of technological developments and obtaining the most modern equipment, resulting in an out-dated technological base and, once again, reduced competitiveness.

On the other hand, the fact that it is the only industrial and commercial bloc in the world which will have to find a solution to such problems, should give the EEC a considerable economic advantage: here is a unique opportunity to acquire critical expertise in the area of language processing, which should contribute to the economic plan (directly through sales, indirectly through a greater ability to overcome linguistic problems in dealing with outside economic partners: USSR, China, Middle East, Latin America, etc.) and to the social plan (by a more integrated approach to handicap, etc.) throughout the range of activities which are more usually conducted in one language than many.

The development of sound and profitable language processing industries should guarantee the long term worldwide supremacy of Europe.