At the initiative of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, the European Day of Languages has been celebrated every year since 2001 on 26 September. Throughout Europe, 800 million Europeans represented in the Council of Europe's 47 member states are encouraged to learn more languages, at any age, in and out of school. Being convinced that linguisitic diversity is a tool for achievening greater intercultural understanding and a key element in the rich cultural heritage of out continent, the Council of Europe promotes plurilinguialism in the whole of Europe.