As part of the 3rd Macao Special Administrative Region-EU Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field, the Legal and Judicial Training Centre is going to hold a seminar on “Multilingual and Bilingual Legislation: Perspectives from the European Union and Experience from Wales (UK)”, with the aim of enhancing the knowledge of our legal professionals in the multilingual and bilingual legislative drafting work of the European Union and of Wales. This event is going to take place starting on November 12, Monday, at 6:30 p.m. at the Auditorium of the Civil Service Training Centre located on the 7th floor of the Cheng Feng Commercial Centre on Alameda Dr. Carlos D’ Assumpção.
This seminar will be conducted in English, with simultaneous interpretation to Cantonese and Portuguese and will feature the following speakers:
- Mr. Charles William Robinson, Associate Research Fellow, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London; Ex-Coordinator of the Quality of Legislation Team in the Legal Service of the European Commission (Brussels);
- Mr. Dylan Mortimer Hughes, First Legislative Counsel, Welsh Government; Deputy Director of Legal Services, Welsh Government.
During the five daily sessions, which will be taking place from 6:30p.m. to 8:30p.m. until November 16, the following topics will be discussed:
1. 2018.11.12
INTRODUCTION: THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK
- The Constitutional and Institutional Context for Legislation
The EU Legal Framework
- The Founding Treaties
- The Institutions of the EU: Parliament, Council and Commission; Court of Justice
- EU Legislation: Regulations, Directives, Decisions and Recommendations
- The Language Regime of the EU: Official Languages, Working Languages, Procedural Languages, Drafting Language
- Specific Nature of the EU Language
The Legal Framework of the UK/Wales
- Constitutional Principles within the UK
- European Communities Act 1972; Human Rights Act 1998; Government of Wales Act 2006
- UK Institutions: UK Parliament, UK Government, Devolved Legislatures and Governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- UK Legislation
- Status of the Welsh and English languages.
2. 2018.11.13
DRAFTING LEGISLATION
- Who Drafts and Which Mechanisms Apply
Drafting EU Legislation
- Drafting Process: Who Does What?
- Lawyer-linguists and Legal Revisers, Translators and Interpreters, Drafters
- Qualifications and Training
- Working Methods
- Legislative Drafting Guides, Manuals and Tools: 1998 Interinstitutional Agreement on Drafting, Joint Practical Guide (2000) Joint Handbook, DAP (Commission), DST (EP), 2016 Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Lawmaking, Better Regulation Guidelines, Better Regulation Toolbox
- Structure of EU Acts: Title, Preamble, Enacting Terms, Annexes
- Style of EU Legislation and Different Legislative Cultures
Drafting Welsh Legislation
- Role of Legislative Counsel and Lawyers
- Role of Legal Translators Lawyer-linguists, Translators and Interpreters
- Qualifications and Training
- Working Methods
- Legislative Drafting Guides, Manuals and Tools: Structure and Style of Welsh Legislation
3. 2018.11.14
THE LAWMAKING PROCESS
- How Legislation is Made and Promulgated
The Legislative Procedure in the EU
- Proposal from the Commission
- Adoption by the European Parliament and the Council
- Publication of EU Legislation: Publications Office, Official Journal, EUR-Lex
- Explanatory Materials
- Making EU Legislation More Accessible
Legislative Procedure in Wales
- How Legislation Is Developed: From Policy Proposal to Enactment
- National Assembly for Wales and Welsh Ministers: Procedure for Legislating (Primary and Secondary Legislation)
- Publication of Welsh (and UK) Legislation: Queen’s Printer, the National Archive, legislation.gov.uk
- Explanatory Materials: Law Wales (www.law.gov.wales)
- Making Welsh Legislation More Accessible
4. 2018.11.15
INTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION
- How to Interpret Legislation that is Authentic in More than One Language
Interpreting EU (Multilingual) Legislation
- Authentic in 24 Languages
- All Language Versions Have Equal Status
- Regarding the text, the purpose and the context
Interpreting Welsh (Bilingual) Legislation
- Two Languages
- Implications of Equal Status for English and Welsh Languages
- Role of the Judiciary
- Interpretation Acts
5. 2018.11.16
CONCLUSIONS
- Different Approaches to Drafting Multilingual and Bilingual Legislation - Advantages and Disadvantages
- Reflections and Lessons Learnt
The 3rd Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field between the Macao Special Administrative Region and the European Union is going to take place until November 2019. The execution of the Co-operation Programme is coordinated by the Legal Affairs Bureau, together with many entities and public departments of the Macao Special Administrative Region, including the Legal and Judicial Training Centre, the Institute of European Studies of Macau, the Economic Services, the Consumer Council and the Social Welfare Bureau.