In 2016, the Norwegian Association of Interpreters (NTF – Norsk tolkeforening) was accepted as a full member of EULITA – the European Legal Interpreters and Translators Association – and was represented with complete voting rights at the recent General Assembly in Vienna, Austria.
EULITA provides a significant European arena for exchange of experiences, says Katerina Sandstø, president of the Norwegian Association of Interpreters (NTF).
A significant number of NTF’s members are legal interpreters.
EULITA is an international not-for-profit association aiming to promote cooperation and best practices in working arrangements with the legal services and legal professions. Members include national professional associations of legal translators and spoken or sign language legal interpreters that are established in EU and EEU member states, Switzerland and EU membership candidate countries. Amongst EULITA‘s associate members are interested organisations, individuals and academic institutions.
– The conference and General Assembly in Vienna was a great inspiration for our representative, and brings us closer to the European continent, says NTF president Katerina Sandstø.
– The European setting is important for Norwegian interpreters, and we are pleased to take part in the advocacy for high quality standards in the framework of legal translation and interpreting. This includes making sure that legal interpreters and translators are used at an extent that meets the demand, that working conditions are appropriate and that there is an adequate supply of qualified interpreters and translators – all of these prerequisites to ensure equal access to justice in all member states, says Katerina Sandstø.
EULITA’s General Assembly on April 1, 2017, was preceded by a two days‘ programme, including the Translating Europe workshop, arranged in cooperation with The European Commission – Directorate-General for Translation. The second day of the conference was titled The many facets of legal intrepreting and translation.
Daniela Amodeo Perillo from the Italian ASSITIG (Associazione Italiana Traduttori e Interpreti Giudiziari), was elected EULITA’s second president, taking over the chair from one of EULITA’s original founders, Liese Katschinka.