Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does Unilingue do?
2. What are the requirements for joining Unilingue?
3. Why UNILINGUE and not other associations?
4. What does UNILINGUE actually do for its members?
5. How much does it cost to join Unilingue?
6. Are there any agreements for UNILINGUE members and whom with?
7. But if I call the Secretary, will somebody answer?
8. What does Confindustria SI (Confindustria Innovative Services) have to do with you?
9. Is there a legal service that protects me?
10. What is the salary of Unilingue operators?
11. How many members does the UNILINGUE Governing Board have?
12. How can I become a member of the Governing Board?
13. So really you have no flaws?
14. Do you have future plans?

1 - What does Unilingue do?

Unilingue is the most important association of language service providers in Europe.
It aims to promote and protect the interests of its members in relation to companies and institutions, with reference to the world of translation and interpretation, key activities for global communication and an essential vehicle for cultural and commercial enrichment and evolution, decisive in the proper development of every nation. It operates under the aegis of Confindustria SI (Confindustria Innovative Services).

2 - What are the requirements for joining Unilingue?

You must be the owner of a company that provides translation, interpretation and conference services with a minimal annual turnover to be specified by the Secretary upon first contact. In fact, there is a distinction between active members and candidate members on the basis of turnover.
Please take note that individual translators or interpreters may not become members of Unilingue, whom we always advise to contact their respective national associations.

3 - Why UNILINGUE and not other associations?

Because UNILINGUE is the only national association present throughout the Italian territory, and the only one recognized on a European level by EUATC, the European Union of Associations of Translation Companies, the details of which are available on the website www.euatc.org. For the 2011-2012 two-year period, the President of Unilingue was invited to hold the prestigious office of EUATC President.

4 - What does UNILINGUE actually do for its members?

UNILINGUE creates promotional campaigns for the initiatives of members, protects members from the attacks of any kind of lobbies or associations that tend to disqualify the work of translation agencies, organises workshops and conferences to keep its members informed and to allow them to network with a view to potential commercial transactions and much more. As a EUATC member, UNILINGUE keeps its members informed of what is going on a European and international level and allows them to access exclusive material as well as to participate in EUATC Conferences at special prices. UNILINGUE manages a constantly updated website for its members. It generates contracts, agreements, networking and visibility in the world to the advantage of all its members.  

5 - How much does it cost to join Unilingue?

Please contact the Unilingue Secretary at the e-mail address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for all specific information.

6 - Are there any agreements for UNILINGUE members and whom with?

Of course, in the section Agreements for members there are many special agreements reserved for members with suppliers selected by the Governing Board of Unilingue.

7 - But if I call the Secretary, will somebody answer?

Definitely. Our Secretary is extremely efficient in answering both e-mails and phone calls often even out of hours, to the extent of being able to contact the Presidency very quickly and, in urgent cases, to assist members in solving any problems they may be facing, obviously within the limits of the relative powers and abilities. 

8 - What does Confindustria SI (Confindustria Innovative Services) have to do with you?

Confindustria SI (Confindustria Innovative Services), visible on the website www.confindustriasi.it, is the national branch of Confindustria that decided to accept the challenge of giving greater visibility to our Association in Italy and the rest of the world, offering us trust, protection and allowing us to lobby at all levels, with the aim of obtaining the best benefits for our members, in addition to offering us great visibility, since Confindustria is one of the key institutions of the Italian economy.

9 - Is there a legal service that protects me?

Of course, and it’s free for the first contact. All Unilingue members are offered a free consultation with our trusted law firm, and not only. When there are fundamental issues to tackle that involve the entire Association, our legal firm is ready to defend us from and against any external attacks, all for the benefit of our members.

10 - What is the salary of Unilingue operators?

Zero. We are all volunteers that like all Unilingue members manage translation agencies and that, due to passion and dedication, decided to dedicate free of charge many extra hours of their life informing, training, and protecting the interests of translation agencies, with the goal of changing the future of the Italian translation market. 

11- How many members does the UNILINGUE Governing Board have?

The Board has 12 members and is always searching for new members, so as to allow the continuous active participation and responsibility of each member. 

12 - How can I become a member of the Governing Board? 

You need to submit an application to the current Governing Board, specifying your reasons for joining the Board, and your proposals for the development of UNILINGUE activities. The Board, after evaluating the candidate’s application, will decide whether or not to let the candidate join the Governing Board.

13 - So really you have no flaws?

We naturally have all the defects one can expect when carrying out voluntary activities, but it is evident that we are always ready to get involved and to meet the challenges of each day, supported by the strength of our members that have been following us for years. We are one of the few associations that maintains a steady number of members over the years, despite the intense period of crisis we have all been experiencing in recent times. 

14 - Do you have future plans?

We have many plans for the future, but the main ones concern EXPO 2015, which we are actively participating in as members of the Confindustria Technical Committees, and the next 2015 EUATC Conference in Lisbon being organized by the Unilingue and EUATC President, in collaboration with the Directorate-General for Translation of the European Commission.
In the News section of the website you may find other UNILINGUE projects for the benefit of members, and we advise you to visit it regularly.