Deutsche Welle (DW) as one of ChatEurope’s media partners supports this development with its experience in multilingual journalism and language technology.
The move responds directly to user feedback: they want to access European news and explanations in their own language, quickly and without friction. With an automatic translation tool integrated on the website, ChatEurope makes it easier to read and share content across borders - and to follow European affairs even if the original article was published in another language.
From 7 publishing languages to 24 reading languages
ChatEurope’s partner media publish original content in seven languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Romanian). With the new feature, this content can now be automatically translated into 24 official EU languages on the website.The goal is simple: make ChatEurope more inclusive and help more people living in Europe access reliable information in their mother tongue.
Plain X: a trusted European solution for multilingual content
Automatic translations on ChatEurope are powered by plain X, a platform co-developed by Priberam and Deutsche Welle (DW) over several years, based on Human Language Technology (HLT) projects where both partners were involved. plain X was presented to Deutsche Welle’s management board and was implemented at DW as a standard solution. Today, after three years of use, it has proven efficient in handling the growing workload of content adaptation.plain X supports workflows that are increasingly important in modern newsrooms - including transcription and multi-step processes such as transcription, translation, subtitling, and voice-over. It is a trusted solution at DW and enables human control, quality checks, and collaboration features.
DW’s Research and Cooperation team developed plain X in close exchange with Priberam, and Deutsche Welle holds a minority stake in the software platform.
“Plain X shows that Europe can perform in AI and language technology, even in a highly competitive market. What makes plain X unique is the full package: multiple AI engines, editorial workflows that save real time, and collaboration features that keep humans in control of quality.”
- Mirko Lorenz, Innovation Manager, Deutsche Welle
A practical usability upgrade - based on what users asked for
The new translation feature is designed as a usability upgrade: it reduces language barriers, improves navigation for non-native readers, and supports easier access to reliable European information across countries and communities.ChatEurope continues to refine the feature based on user feedback, in line with its mission: delivering reliable, fact-based answers about Europe with transparent journalistic sourcing.
Funding note
ChatEurope is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. ChatEurope partners:
- Agence France Presse (AFP) / France
- Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA) / Italy
- Agora Media Group / Poland
- German Press Agency (dpa) / Germany
- Deutsche Welle (DW) / Germany
- DRUID AI / Romania
- El Pais / Spain
- France Médias Monde / France
- Maldita.es / Spain
- MediaConnect (AFP) / France
- news aktuell (dpa) / Germany
- Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT) / Italy
- RFI Romania / Romania
- XWIKI SAS / France
- XWIKI SOFTWARE / Romania