The European Day of Languages is observed worldwide on September 26. It was proclaimed by the Council of Europe on December 6, 2001, at the conclusion of the European Year of Languages. Since 2002, various activities and events have been organized by member states to encourage people to learn a second or third language, both in and out of school. This observance highlights the importance of multilingualism and intercultural understanding, especially as approximately two-thirds of the 225 indigenous languages in Europe are at risk of extinction. The most widely spoken language in Europe is Russian, followed by German, Turkish, English, French, and Italian. While the Council of Europe does not host activities, each member state coordinates events through a National Relay Person.