The Brussels Council for Multilingualism was established in September 2020 on the initiative of Sven Gatz, Brussels Minister for the Promotion of Multilingualism.
In consultation with the Minister, the Council draws up strategic guidelines and helps develop a sustainable policy on all matters relating the promotion of multilingualism. It does so by sharing with policy makers both existing expertise and new insights stemming from the experience of its members. It thereby ensures that attention is continually paid to the topic of multilingualism in the Brussels Capital Region.
The Council is committed to the central objective stated in the Minister's Vision Note: to promote, among the entire Brussels population, the ability to communicate in French, Dutch and English, while recognizing the importance and added value of learning and transmitting all the native languages spoken in our cosmopolitan capital city, and ensuring a good command of at least one of the school languages.
In February 2024, the Council published a memorandum addressed to candidates in regional, community, federal and municipal elections (Bruxsel Babel). It contains two sets of recommendations, one aimed at making Brussels public services more multilingual (‘Mieux accueillir/ Beter onthalen’), the other aimed at making Brussels citizens more multilingual (‘Mieux équiper/ Beter uitrusten’).
Council members are appointed by the Minister for a three-year term. They serve in a personal capacity, not as representatives of their organisations. The Council currently consists of:
The Council is assisted by Sheraz RAFI et Vanessa PASCUCCI (members of the cabinet of the minister).
In September 2025, the Council established a Steering Group for Brussels Multilingualism Week. It is composed of:
and is assisted by Amil DJELLAL, Sheraz RAFI and Vanessa PASCUCCI (cabinet of the minister).