Freelance translators
Ensuring the principle of equal access to justice for all EU citizens requires the translation of a vast number of legal documents at the Court of Justice of the European Union into the official EU languages. Freelance translators have the opportunity to contribute to this goal, and take part in this stimulating and rewarding task, by providing high-quality translation services to the Court. Selection of freelance translators is an ongoing process through permanent contract notices published in the EU’s Official Journal.
The translation service
The Court’s legal translation service, through its lawyer-linguists, is responsible for translating the Court’s legal documents into the EU’s official languages. These documents vary according to a range of factors: nature of the case, subject area, document type (procedural documents, opinions of Advocates General, judgments, orders), language, length etc.
The translation service supports the smooth and efficient running of the Court’s judicial proceedings and ensures the multilingual dissemination of the Court’s decisions.
Translating for the Court as a freelance translator
Freelance translators also play a key role in legal translation at the Court. Approximately one third of the Court’s legal documents are translated by freelance translators. These may be natural or legal persons who have entered into framework contracts with the institution. Translations are expected to be of very high quality, and the freelance translators receive support from the Court’s legal translation service to ensure excellence in their work.
Flexible working arrangements
Freelance translators enjoy the flexibility to work from remote locations, as all communication takes place electronically. Freelance translators also have the freedom to choose the volume of work they accept, based on different set deadlines. This makes it an excellent opportunity for anyone specialised in the field seeking a flexible and inspiring professional activity.
Selection procedure
Freelance translators are selected through public procurement procedures. For that purpose contract notices, which cover numerous language combinations, are published in the EU’s Official Journal.
The procedures are permanent and remain open throughout their whole duration as long as the maximum number of contractors for a given language combination, as specified in the contract notice, has not been reached. Successful candidates are selected through remote translation tests and are then awarded framework contracts. As contractors with the Court, the freelance translators are ranked on a list based on
- the quality of their services
- the price
Translation assignments are offered to the contractors based on this ranking. The list is regularly updated to reflect the quality of work delivered and to accommodate new tenders.
New contract notices
2025 contract notices
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Target language |
Description |
Contract notice |
|
EN |
Conclusion of framework contracts for the translation of legal texts from certain official languages of the European Union into English |
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BG |
Сключване на рамкови договори за превод на юридически текстове от някои официални езици на Европейския съюз на български |
2025/S 207-710685 |
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ES |
Celebración de contratos marco para la traducción al español de textos jurídicos a partir de determinadas lenguas oficiales de la Unión Europea |
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CS |
Uzavření rámcových smluv na překlad právních textů z některých úředních jazyků Evropské unie do českého jazyka |
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DA |
Indgåelse af flere rammeaftaler vedrørende oversættelse af juridiske tekster fra bestemte af Den Europæiske Unions officielle sprog til dansk |
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DE |
Abschluss von Rahmenverträgen für die Übersetzung juristischer Texte aus bestimmten Amtssprachen der Europäischen Union ins Deutsche |
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ET |
Raamlepingud juriidiliste tekstide tõlkimiseks Euroopa Liidu teatud ametlikest keeltest eesti keelde |
2025/S 207-709474 |
|
EL |
Σύναψη συμβάσεων-πλαισίων για τη μετάφραση νομικών κειμένων από ορισμένες επίσημες γλώσσες της Ευρωπαϊκής Ενώσεως προς τα ελληνικά |
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FR |
Conclusion de contrats-cadres pour la traduction de textes juridiques de certaines langues officielles de l'Union européenne vers le français |
2025/S 207-709731 |
|
HR |
Sklapanje okvirnih ugovora za prijevod pravnih tekstova s određenih službenih jezika Europske unije na hrvatski |
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IT |
Conclusione di contratti-quadro per la traduzione di testi giuridici da determinate lingue ufficiali dell'Unione europea in italiano |
2025/S 207-712340 |
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LV |
Pamatlīgumu par juridisku tekstu tulkošanu no noteiktām Eiropas Savienības oficiālajām valodām uz latviešu valodu noslēgšana |
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LT |
Bendrųjų sutarčių sudarymas dėl teisinių tekstų vertimų raštu iš kai kurių Europos Sąjungos oficialiųjų kalbų į lietuvių kalbą |
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HU |
Jogi szövegeknek az Európai Unió egyes hivatalos nyelveiről magyar nyelvre történő fordítására irányuló keretszerződések megkötése |
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MT |
Konklużjoni ta' kuntratti qafas għat-traduzzjoni ta' testi ġuridiċi minn ċerti lingwi uffiċjali tal-Unjoni Ewropea lejn il-Malti |
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NL |
Sluiten van raamcontracten voor de vertaling van juridische teksten vanuit een aantal officiële talen van de Europese Unie naar het Nederlands |
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PL |
Zawarcie umów ramowych o tłumaczenie tekstów prawniczych z niektórych języków urzędowych Unii Europejskiej na język polski |
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PT |
Celebração de contratos-quadro para a tradução de textos jurídicos a partir de certas línguas oficiais da União Europeia para português |
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RO |
Încheierea de contracte-cadru pentru traducerea unor texte juridice din anumite limbi oficiale ale Uniunii Europene în limba română |
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SK |
Uzavretie rámcových zmlúv na preklad právnych textov z niektorých úradných jazykov Európskej únie do slovenského jazyka |
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SL |
Sklenitev okvirnih pogodb za prevajanje pravnih besedil iz nekaterih uradnih jezikov Evropske unije v slovenščino |
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FI |
Puitesopimusten tekeminen oikeudellisten tekstien kääntämisestä tietyistä Euroopan unionin virallisista kielistä suomeen |
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SV |
Ramkontrakt för översättning av juridiska texter från vissa av Europeiska unionens officiella språk till svenska |
Procurement documents
- Contract notice (see links in the contract notice above for the relevant target language)
- Letter of invitation to participate
- Tender specifications EN | FR
- Annex 1 - Professional capacity
- Annex 2 - Compulsory registration form
- Annex 3 - "Legal entity" form EN | FR
- Annex 4 - Declaration on honour concerning the exclusion and selection criteria
- Annex 5 - Cover page for the tender EN | FR
- Annex 6 - Financial proposal ("tender price") EN | FR
- Annex 7 - Model framework contract EN | FR
- Annex 1 - Professional capacity
|
Target language |
Description |
Contract notice |
|
GA |
Tabhairt i gcrích creatchonarthaí le haghaidh téacsanna dlí i dteangacha oifigiúla áirithe den Aontas Eorpach a aistriú go Gaeilge |
Procurement documents
- Contract notice (see links in the contract notice above for the relevant target language)
- Letter of invitation to participate
- Tender specifications
- Tender specifications in Irish
- Tender specifications in English
- Tender specifications in French
- Annex 1 – Compulsory registration form
- Annex 2 – “Legal entity” form
- Annex 3 – Declaration on honour concerning the exclusion and selection criteria
- Annex 4 – Cover page for the tender
- Annex 5 – Financial proposal (“tender price”)
- Annex 1 – Compulsory registration form
- Model framework contract
- Tender specifications in Irish
