ENGLISH IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: GLOBAL PRACTICE AND STEPS TOWARDS EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

Abstract

The demand for English proficiency is increasing substantially all over the world as the language dominates every walk of life. It has remained one of the working languages of the EU and the Council of Europe, which gives it even greater significance. The purpose of the article is to analyze the experience of incorporating English into the sphere of public administration of foreign countries and review the initiatives directed to supporting the promotion of English as a communication tool of public officials. The article discusses the requirements for English proficiency in the countries’ civil service systems as well as the attempts made to improve English fluency of public officials. It has been discovered that when appointing civil servants, most national governments in Europe require proficiency only in the official (state or national) language, which reflects the EU language policy of multilingualism and multiculturalism. It is highlighted that Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia appear to be the only countries within the EU that oblige their civil servants at the official level to present a certificate or otherwise prove language fluency. The work in the EU bodies presupposes knowledge of one of the working languages of the EU. Asian countries (China, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc.) tend to set the knowledge of English for public officials as a prerequisite for appointment more often. Research has demonstrated that the Ukrainian government has made attempts to improve the level of the English language among civil servants since its European integration aspirations, by cooperating with national and international organizations, arranging workshops, professional development courses in English, providing opportunities for joining self-study courses and platforms. Nonetheless, more measures must be taken to motivate, stimulate and encourage the development of civil servants’ English skills.