Zelensky introduces bill making English co-official language, to support EU integration

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky introduced draft law No. 9432, "On the use of the English language in Ukraine," to the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. 

The law will consolidate the official status of English as one of the languages of international communication in Ukraine, Rubryka reports, referring to the website of the Verkhovna Rada, Telegram of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov.

What is the problem?

English is officially recognized as a second language in 196 countries. It is the language of diplomacy, business, science, and other vital fields. Today, 1.5 billion people already know English, and about 1 billion are starting to learn it.

Ukraine's European integration aspirations determine, in particular, the recognition of European standards in language policy.

The Ministry of Digital Transformation team conducted a study that showed that 49% of the adult population does not speak English. 56% want to improve their skills, and 45% of teachers speak English at a high level of C.

What is the solution?

The President submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law granting the English language the status of an international language. This will drive the development of innovation, business, education, and Ukraine's integration into the EU.

"We will help Ukrainians to actively learn and use English as much as possible in all spheres of life. In parallel, we are preparing changes to the legislation introducing the English language for 2023-2026," Fedorov said.

How does it work?

As explained on the website, the document proposes defining the categories of positions for which candidates must speak English.

The project normalizes the peculiarities of using the English language in the work of state bodies and local authorities, local self-government bodies, units of emergency assistance to the population, the state border, and in the fields of education, culture, transport, health care, etc.

"The transformation of the status of the English language in Ukraine is a necessity and a strategic step towards the full membership of our country in the EU because knowledge of the English language is a key competence in the conditions of globalization changes," the explanatory note to the draft law states.

The requirements for the mandatory command of the English language are set for persons applying for positions of civil service, the Ukrainian government, local authorities, MPs, military officers, middle and senior police officers, senior positions of other law enforcement agencies, senior ranks of the civil protection service, prosecutors, tax and customs authorities, and heads of economic entities of the state sector of the economy.

On June 17, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, said that the government is working on a draft law that will establish English as the language of international communication, as the need for specialists with knowledge of English is growing in Ukraine.

The head of government added that the Cabinet of Ministers is currently working on solutions that will make learning English more accessible to all those who wish to do so.

In August of last year, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy developed a draft law on establishing a special status of English in Ukraine as the language of international communication.