Languages in Request for Information

Languages

Pursuant to Article 3(1) of Council Regulation No 1 of 15 April 1958 determining the languages to be used by the European Economic Community5, addressees of requests for information are entitled to receive them in one of the languages of the Member States where they are located. As far as complainants are concerned, requests for information must be in the language of their complaint (as long as is it one of the EU official languages) even if this is not the language of the Member State where they are located (see further in the Module Use of languages).

More about Languages in Request for Information

As regards simple requests for information it is standard practice to send the cover letter in the language of the addressee's location or in English (including a reference to Article 3 of Regulation 1 of 15 April 1958) and to attach the questionnaire in English. The addressee is informed – in the language of the addressee's location – of its right to obtain a translation of the cover letter and/or questionnaire into the language of the addressee's location, as well as the right to reply in that language. This practice allows for more expeditious treatment of information request, while preserving the rights of addressees.

Resources

See Also

References

• Information about Languages in Request for Information in the Antitrust Manual of Procedures for the application of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU (Internal DG Competition)

Further Reading

• Information about Languages in Request for Information in EU Competition Procedure, 3rd. Edition, Edited by Luis Ortiz Blanco (Oxford University Press)