A special Eurobarometer survey, Europeans and Languages, analysing knowledge, use of and attitudes to languages in the 15 member states, has recently been published (February 2001). It highlights the continuing dominance of English as the first foreign language spoken (41%), followed by French (19%), German (10%), Spanish (7%) and Italian (3%). The majority of respondents (72%) believe that knowing foreign languages is useful, whether or not they speak any; foreign languages seem to be used most frequently in a holiday context (47%), compared to 21% of respondents using them at work.
 
This is reflected in why people want to learn a language: 47% said they would learn a new language to use it on holiday. Parents of children under 20 valued language learning most highly, 93% saying it is important that their children learn other languages. However, across Europe, lack of time continues to be a barrier to learning, with 34% stating they do not have the time to study properly. Whilst 22% of Europeans do not consider themselves good at languages, 71% think everyone in the EU should be able to speak one European language in addition to their mother tongue.
 
Source: Europeans and Languages, INRA (Europe), February 2001