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ISO 17100:2015 Certificate
ETC Europe recertified to the ISO 17100:2015 translation standard
On 13 October 2025, ETC Europe was officially recertified to the ISO 17100:2015 standard for translation services, reaffirming its commitment to delivering high-quality multilingual translation services for EU institutions, international organisations, NGOs, and other demanding clients.
What ISO 17100:2015 certification means for your organisation
ISO 17100:2015 is the internationally recognised standard for professional translation services. It establishes requirements covering the main stages of the translation workflow, including translator and reviser qualifications, project management, translation, revision, quality control, and final verification.
For organisations procuring EU translation services or responding to tenders issued by European institutions and international organisations, working with an ISO 17100-certified provider offers independently audited evidence of structured and traceable translation processes. In some procurement procedures, recognised quality certifications may also be required or taken into account during supplier evaluation.
Key requirements covered by ISO 17100:2015
- Verified professional qualifications and competences for translators and revisers
- Revision by a second suitably qualified linguist
- Documented project management and quality assurance procedures
- Appropriate handling of client information and project specifications
- Traceability throughout the translation and delivery process
Why recertification matters for EU and multilingual procurement
Recertification is not automatic. It involves an external audit to verify that the organisation’s processes, resources, and quality management practices continue to meet the applicable requirements of ISO 17100:2015.
For clients operating in EU procurement environments — including framework contracts, public tenders, and multilingual institutional projects — ETC Europe’s recertification provides current, independently audited evidence that its translation workflows remain aligned with an internationally recognised quality standard.
This can support supplier due diligence, facilitate quality assessments, and provide greater confidence when selecting a translation partner for complex or sensitive multilingual assignments.
Meeting the standards of European institutions and international organisations
EU institutions, intergovernmental organisations, public authorities, and major NGOs operate within demanding quality and compliance frameworks. Their multilingual communications — including legal texts, policy documents, public consultations, institutional reports, and technical publications — must be accurate, consistent, and handled by suitably qualified professionals.
ETC Europe’s ISO 17100:2015 recertification confirms that its professional translation services are delivered through structured, documented, and regularly audited processes. This gives institutional clients additional assurance when entrusting ETC Europe with complex multilingual content.
ETC Europe: a trusted partner for EU translation services
Specialising in institutional, legal, policy, and technical translation across the official languages of the European Union, ETC Europe supports clients throughout the full project lifecycle — from terminology preparation and project management to translation, revision, formatting, quality control, and final delivery.
Our recertification to ISO 17100:2015 reflects our continued investment in professional expertise, quality assurance, traceability, and the service standards expected by European institutions and international organisations.
Request a quote or learn more about our certified translation services
Whether you are preparing a multilingual tender response, procuring translation services within an EU or international framework, or seeking ongoing linguistic support for institutional communications, ETC Europe can provide a solution adapted to your requirements.
- Coverage of all official EU languages
- ISO 17100:2015-certified translation workflows
- Experience in EU institutional, legal, policy, and technical translation
- Documented quality assurance and traceability procedures
Contact our team to discuss your multilingual requirements and discover how ETC Europe can support your next project.
FAQ
What is ISO 17100:2015?
ISO 17100:2015 is the international standard for professional translation services. It defines requirements for translators, revisers, project managers, translation processes, quality control, and the management of client specifications.
What does ISO 17100:2015 certification demonstrate?
ISO 17100:2015 certification demonstrates that a translation provider follows documented and independently audited processes. These processes include the use of suitably qualified linguists, revision by a second professional, project management procedures, and quality checks before delivery.
Is ISO 17100:2015 certification required for EU tenders?
ISO 17100:2015 certification is not mandatory for every EU tender. However, some European institutions, international organisations, and public authorities may require recognised quality certifications or take them into account when evaluating translation suppliers.
What is the difference between ISO 17100 certification and recertification?
Initial certification confirms that a provider’s processes meet the requirements of ISO 17100:2015. Recertification takes place after a further external audit and confirms that the provider continues to comply with the standard over time.
Which translation services are covered by ISO 17100:2015?
ISO 17100:2015 applies to professional translation services and the associated processes defined by the standard, including project preparation, translation, revision, quality control, and final verification. Related services such as terminology management, formatting, localisation, and post-editing may be managed through complementary quality-controlled workflows.
Why should EU institutions and international organisations work with an ISO 17100-certified provider?
Working with an ISO 17100-certified provider offers additional assurance that multilingual content is handled through structured, traceable, and audited processes. This can support supplier due diligence and reduce quality and compliance risks in complex institutional translation projects.
When was ETC Europe recertified to ISO 17100:2015?
ETC Europe was officially recertified to the ISO 17100:2015 standard on 13 October 2025, following an external audit of its translation processes and quality management procedures.
GDPR – Interim Statement
ETC Europe places great importance on the correct, lawful and fair handling of all personal data, respecting the legal rights, privacy, and trust of all individuals with whom it deals. As a trusted partner for EU translation services, multilingual communication, and document processing for European institutions, international organisations, and NGOs, we are committed to full transparency regarding how we handle your data.
Our Commitment to GDPR Compliance
The GDPR gives more rights to individuals and more obligations to us when we process your personal data. We are continuously working towards comprehensive compliance across all areas where we process personal data, including in the context of multilingual projects, tenders, and institutional mandates.
We are actively reviewing and updating our internal processes, contractual frameworks, and technical safeguards to ensure that our practices meet the highest standards required under EU data protection law.
What Personal Data We Process
In the course of its business, ETC Europe processes personal data relating to the following categories of individuals:
- Clients — including contact details, project briefs, and procurement information related to tenders and institutional contracts.
- Employees and freelance translators — including professional credentials, contact information, and assignment records.
- Suppliers and subcontractors — including company representatives and service agreements.
- Document content — personal data that may be contained within documents submitted for EU translation or multilingual processing.
Handling Personal Data in Translation Documents
Documents submitted for translation present a particular challenge in terms of data protection and compliance. The content of such documents may include personal data — names, addresses, identification numbers, or other sensitive information — especially in the context of legal, administrative, or institutional files processed for European institutions and international bodies.
Our Standard Safeguards
We routinely treat all documents submitted for EU translation as strictly confidential. Our standard safeguards include:
- Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with all translators and subcontractors.
- Restricted access to source documents on a need-to-know basis.
- Secure file transfer protocols and encrypted communication channels.
- Internal data minimisation practices to limit unnecessary exposure of personal information.
- Regular staff training on data protection and confidentiality obligations.
International Data Transfers
In order to deliver the the highest-quality multilingual translations within competitive turnaround times, our linguists may be located outside the EEA, including in countries not deemed to provide an adequate level of data protection under the GDPR. This situation is common to all language service providers operating within the EU and is a fundamental feature of the translation industry.
We are actively working on practical and legally sound solutions to address this challenge, including the use of Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and other approved transfer mechanisms, to ensure a fully GDPR-compliant framework for all translation content — particularly for institutional clients and organisations responding to organisations responding to EU calls for tenders.
Why Compliance Matters for Institutional Clients
For European institutions, international organisations, and NGOs, data protection compliance is not optional — it is a prerequisite for partnership and procurement. ETC Europe understands the specific compliance requirements that apply to institutional clients, including those tendering through EU procurement frameworks.
Our approach to GDPR compliance is designed to support you in meeting your obligations as a data controller, ensuring that your multilingual communication needs are handled with the highest levels of legal and operational rigour.
Your Rights Under GDPR
As a data subject, you benefit from a comprehensive set of rights under the GDPR. These include:
- Right of access — you may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Right to rectification — you may request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Right to erasure — in certain circumstances, you may request the deletion of your personal data.
- Right to restriction of processing — you may ask us to limit how we use your data.
- Right to data portability — you may request a structured, machine-readable copy of your data.
- Right to object — you may object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing.
To exercise any of these rights, or to raise a concern about how your data is handled, please contact us directly. We will respond to all requests within the timeframes prescribed by applicable EU law.
Updates to This Privacy Notice
This privacy notice is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect changes in legislation, operational practices, and the evolving requirements of our institutional clients and clients with multilingual needs. We encourage you to check this page periodically for the latest information on how ETC Europe protects your personal data in the context of EU translation and language services.
FAQ
Is ETC Europe GDPR-compliant for EU translation services provided to European institutions?
Yes. ETC Europe is committed to full compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation across all its EU translation and multilingual services. We continuously review and update our internal processes, contractual frameworks, and technical safeguards to meet the stringent data protection standards required by European institutions, international organisations, and NGOs. Our compliance approach is specifically designed to address the obligations that apply to institutional clients operating within EU procurement frameworks.
How does ETC Europe protect personal data contained in documents submitted for multilingual processing?
All documents submitted for EU translation or multilingual processing are treated as strictly confidential, regardless of their content. Our safeguards include non-disclosure agreements with all linguists and subcontractors, restricted access on a need-to-know basis, secure and encrypted file transfer protocols, and data minimisation practices designed to limit unnecessary exposure of personal information. These measures apply equally to legal, administrative, and institutional documents that may contain sensitive personal data.
Can ETC Europe handle translation projects related to tenders while ensuring data confidentiality?
Absolutely. ETC Europe has extensive experience supporting organisations responding to tenders and EU calls for tenders. We are fully aware of the sensitivity of procurement-related documentation and apply the same rigorous confidentiality and compliance standards to all tender-related multilingual projects. All translators and subcontractors involved in such assignments are bound by strict NDAs, and access to source documents is strictly controlled.
What measures are in place when multilingual translations involve linguists located outside the EEA?
Where EU translation assignments involve linguists based outside the European Economic Area, ETC Europe relies on approved transfer mechanisms under the GDPR, including Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs), to ensure a legally sound and fully compliant framework for the transfer of personal data. This approach reflects the operational realities of the multilingual translation industry while maintaining the highest standards of compliance expected by European institutions and other institutional clients.
How can I exercise my GDPR rights in relation to data processed by ETC Europe?
You may exercise any of your rights under the GDPR — including rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, and objection — by contacting ETC Europe directly. We are committed to responding to all requests within the timeframes prescribed by applicable EU law. If you have a concern about how your personal data is handled in the context of our EU translation or multilingual services, we encourage you to reach out to us without delay.
New contract with the European Central Bank
ETC Europe provides professional translation and editing services to European institutions, having been awarded a contract by the European Central Bank (ECB) for English-language editing and translation services in November 2015.
ETC Europe was awarded a contract by the European Central Bank (ECB) for editing and translation services into English in November 2015. This milestone reflects our longstanding expertise in delivering high-quality EU translation and language services tailored to the demanding standards of European institutions.
Professional Translation Services for European Institutions
Working with European institutions requires a deep understanding of institutional language, regulatory frameworks, and communication protocols. ETC Europe provides multilingual translation and editing services that meet the rigorous quality benchmarks expected by EU bodies, international organisations, and NGOs operating within the European policy landscape.
Our collaboration with the ECB is a testament to our ability to handle complex financial, economic, and regulatory content with precision, consistency, and full compliance with institutional style guides and terminology standards.
Our Expertise in EU Translation and Editing
ETC Europe specialises in providing language services that go beyond word-for-word translation. We offer comprehensive editorial support designed to ensure that documents are not only linguistically accurate but also stylistically appropriate for their institutional audience.
What We Deliver
- Translation into English from all major EU languages
- Editing and proofreading of institutional and policy documents
- Terminology management and glossary development
- Multilingual project coordination for large-scale publications
- Compliance with EU institutional style guides (e.g., the ECB, European Commission, European Parliament)
Responding to EU Calls for Tenders
Securing a contract through the competitive EU procurement process — including formal calls for tenders — requires demonstrated expertise, a proven track record, and strict adherence to institutional requirements. ETC Europe has successfully navigated these processes, earning the trust of leading European institutions such as the ECB.
Our experience with EU tendering procedures means we understand what institutions need: reliability, subject-matter expertise, and a multilingual team capable of delivering consistent quality across large volumes of content.
Why Institutions Choose ETC Europe
A Multilingual Team with Institutional Knowledge
Our translators and editors are specialists in EU institutional language. They are familiar with the terminology, tone, and formatting conventions used across the full spectrum of European institutions, ensuring full compliance with the highest editorial standards.
Proven Experience with EU Bodies
From central banks to intergovernmental organisations, ETC Europe has built a solid reputation for delivering accurate, publication-ready translations. Our work with the ECB is one example of our broader commitment to serving the multilingual communication needs of European and international institutions.
Quality, Confidentiality, and Compliance
We operate under strict confidentiality protocols and quality assurance processes, ensuring that all deliverables meet both the linguistic and institutional requirements of our clients. Whether the project involves the translation of EU policy briefs, annual reports, or regulatory texts, ETC Europe guarantees accuracy and professionalism at every stage.
ETC Europe Wins EU Scientific Translation Contract
ETC Europe: EU Contract for Scientific Translation into Dutch and Estonian
In November 2015, ETC Europe was awarded a contract by the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for the translation of scientific texts into Dutch and Estonian. This milestone reflects our long-standing commitment to providing high-quality EU translation services to European institutions, international organisations, and other public-sector clients.
EU Translation Services for European Institutions
Working with the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union, commonly known as the CdT, requires a high level of linguistic accuracy, terminological consistency, operational reliability, and familiarity with institutional requirements.
ETC Europe has developed extensive experience in these areas, providing multilingual translation services designed to meet the quality and procedural expectations of EU institutions and bodies.
Our selection for this contract demonstrated our capacity to translate specialised scientific content into several European languages while following the quality processes, terminology requirements, and delivery procedures applicable to EU institutional translation.
A Competitive EU Tendering Process
Contracts issued by EU bodies are generally awarded through formal public procurement procedures governed by European procurement rules. Securing a place on such contracts or framework agreements requires suppliers to demonstrate that they meet the technical, professional, administrative, and financial criteria set out in the tender documentation.
Depending on the contract, these requirements may include:
- Proven experience in specialised fields, including scientific and technical translation
- Documented quality assurance and confidentiality procedures
- The capacity to manage multilingual projects and institutional deadlines
- Access to suitably qualified translators and revisers
- Experience in working with public institutions or international organisations
ETC Europe met the applicable selection and award criteria for this contract, strengthening its position as an experienced language service provider within the EU institutional market.
Scientific Translation into Dutch and Estonian
The contract covered the translation of scientific texts into Dutch and Estonian. These two languages require dedicated linguistic resources, native-level target-language competence, and access to translators with appropriate subject-matter knowledge.
ETC Europe works with specialised linguists who combine professional translation competence with familiarity with scientific terminology, institutional language, and the style requirements applicable to EU publications.
Why Scientific Translation Requires Specialist Expertise
Scientific translation is one of the most demanding areas of professional translation. Translators must understand both the source content and the conventions of the relevant scientific field while producing clear, accurate, and terminologically consistent target-language texts.
Errors or ambiguity in scientific, technical, regulatory, or public-health-related documents can affect interpretation and usability. For this reason, scientific translators must be selected on the basis of both linguistic competence and relevant subject-matter expertise.
Quality Assurance for EU Institutional Translation
Compliance with client specifications and institutional requirements is central to every translation project delivered for EU bodies. ETC Europe applies documented quality assurance procedures aligned with the nature of each assignment and the applicable contractual requirements.
These procedures may include:
- Use of official EU terminology resources, glossaries, and reference material
- Revision by a second suitably qualified linguist
- Terminology and consistency checks
- Formatting and final verification in accordance with client instructions
- Secure handling of documents and confidential information
These processes help ensure that translated content is accurate, consistent, traceable, and suitable for use in an institutional environment.
ETC Europe: An Experienced Partner for EU Institutional Translation
ETC Europe provides translation and multilingual language services to European institutions, international organisations, NGOs, public authorities, and organisations operating within the European policy and regulatory environment.
Our experience with EU procurement procedures and institutional translation projects enables us to support clients requiring reliable multilingual communication across scientific, technical, legal, policy, and public-sector subject areas.
Contact our team to learn more about our EU translation services and how ETC Europe can support your multilingual communication requirements.
FAQ
What was the contract awarded to ETC Europe in November 2015?
In November 2015, ETC Europe was awarded a contract by the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for the translation of scientific texts into Dutch and Estonian.
What is the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union?
The Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union, commonly referred to as the CdT, provides translation and related language services to EU agencies, bodies, and institutions.
Which languages were covered by the contract?
The contract covered the translation of scientific texts into Dutch and Estonian. Both language combinations require qualified native-language translators with appropriate scientific and institutional expertise.
How are EU translation contracts awarded?
EU translation contracts are generally awarded through formal public procurement procedures. Suppliers must demonstrate that they meet the technical, professional, administrative, and financial requirements set out in the tender specifications.
What qualifications are required for scientific translation?
Scientific translators require professional translation competence, excellent command of the target language, and relevant subject-matter knowledge. They must also be able to research specialised terminology and follow client-specific terminology and style guidelines.
How does ETC Europe ensure quality in EU translation projects?
ETC Europe uses documented quality assurance procedures that may include qualified translator selection, revision by a second linguist, terminology checks, consistency control, formatting verification, and secure document handling.
Does ETC Europe provide translation services in other EU languages?
Yes. ETC Europe provides multilingual translation services across the official languages of the European Union, subject to the requirements, language combinations, and specialist expertise needed for each project.
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ETC Europe — ISO 17100 certified, serving EU institutions and international organisations for over 25 years.