Reliable multilingual information is an important condition for making everyday cross-border mobility easier in the Hungarian-Slovak border region. Within the framework of the #ACCESS project, legal and administrative obstacles are examined from the perspective of people living, working, studying or using public services across the border. One recurring issue identified through the project activities is the difficulty of accessing clear and credible public information in both Hungarian and Slovak.
To better understand possible responses to this challenge, the #ACCESS team held an expert interview on 1 June 2026 with Éva Spiegl, Hungarian representative of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Translation. The discussion focused on multilingual public communication, translation workflows, terminology resources and the potential role of AI-supported language tools in cross-border contexts.
The exchange confirmed that machine translation and AI-based tools can offer useful support, but their role depends strongly on the type of text and the level of risk involved. Tools such as eTranslation may be particularly relevant for EU-related, formal or terminology-sensitive materials, while citizen-facing information often requires accessible wording, careful editing and, in higher-stakes cases, human review.
Éva Spiegl, Directorate-General for Translation
A key topic of the discussion was the importance of terminology. The interview highlighted that many legal and administrative concepts do not have simple one-to-one equivalents across languages and public-administration systems. In such cases, translation alone is not always sufficient: short explanations, contextual information and expert validation may also be needed in order to avoid misunderstandings.
The EU’s multilingual terminology database, IATE, and the glossary function of eTranslation were also discussed as possible resources for improving consistency in Hungarian-Slovak and Slovak-Hungarian communication. Such tools may be especially useful when working with recurring administrative, legal or sector-specific terms.
The conversation also touched on website translation, data protection and the responsible use of AI-supported tools by public institutions. A recurring conclusion was that automated translation can support understanding, but should not be presented as an authoritative legal interpretation. For public-facing information, clear disclaimers and careful selection of content types remain important.
The interview provided useful input for the further reflection within #ACCESS on how existing EU language resources, terminology work and responsible translation workflows could contribute to better multilingual public information in the border region.
The project is financially supported by the European Union,
within the framework of the Interreg Hungary – Slovakia Programme.
For more information visit www.skhu.eu.
The project is financially supported by the European Union,
within the framework of the Interreg Hungary – Slovakia Programme.
For more information visit www.skhu.eu.
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