Retour et relais - un défi et une réalité quotidienne pour les interprètes de conférence au sein des institutions européennes

Retour and relay are now an everyday reality in European institutions, particularly with the last enlargements bringing in Eastern and Central European countries. The author mentions how retour was used in the case of less widely used languages on both national and private markets in the past. Then she focuses on retour in a European multilingual context. Opinions regarding the justification and quality continue to vary in interpreting, academic and scientific circles.Data acquired from questionnaires for interpreters in 2003 and 2006 at various community institution events and responses from members of the European Parliament (June 2006) indicate that there is no unanimity of view, as opinions depend on personal experience with the performance of individual interpreters and on the nature of the event in question.