Introduction
Tirana was recently the venue of a high-level EU hybrid summit that brought together more than 250 participants from different countries, institutions, and sectors. The event, organized by a well-established international NGO, focused on regional collaboration and development priorities. It was streamed simultaneously across five countries and involved Albanian, Serbian, English, and Macedonian as working languages, demonstrating the complexity and scale of communication required. Language Solutions was selected as the interpreting service provider, tasked with ensuring seamless communication between English and Albanian speakers throughout the multi-day event. Our role was essential in enabling inclusive dialogue, especially given the multilingual and hybrid nature of the summit.
From Client Contact to Service Design
The collaboration began when the organizing NGO contacted Language Solutions to discuss the language requirements for the upcoming event. After reviewing the initial brief, which included the topics, structure, and multilingual scope of the summit, our client director held a consultation to assess the specific needs of the organizers.
Key discussion points included:
- Languages required for interpretation
- Number and type of sessions needing language support
- Mode of interpretation: on-site, remote, or hybrid
- Technical considerations for multilingual delivery
Based on this information, we provided a comprehensive proposal aligned with the scale and technical demands of the summit.
Operational Planning and Coordination
Once the service concept was finalized, responsibility shifted to our interpreting coordinator, who managed the operational aspects of delivery.
Planning activities included:
- Drafting a detailed event schedule
- Determining the number of interpreters needed per session
- Assigning interpreters to sessions based on language pairings and expertise
- Identifying potential logistical and technical challenges related to remote simultaneous interpretation
Given that the summit involved parallel sessions across multiple countries, it was essential to create a coordination plan that enabled:
- Seamless interpreter handovers
- Stable multilingual audio channels
- Real-time communication between interpreters, technicians, and event staff
- Continuous support throughout the event for uninterrupted access
Interpreter Selection and Team Formation
The next stage involved assembling the right team of interpreters. Our interpreting coordinator reviewed the language combinations required and selected professionals from our network who not only had the necessary linguistic qualifications but also had proven experience in high-level conferences, EU affairs, and development-related themes. Particular attention was given to interpreters handling English–Albanian interpretation, as this was one of the core language pairs for the summit. In addition to subject matter knowledge, interpreters were chosen for their adaptability in hybrid conference formats, which require not only accurate interpretation but also comfort with virtual tools and platforms.
Each interpreter received a tailored briefing based on the sessions they would cover. Materials such as the event agenda, speaker bios, working documents, and reference texts were shared in advance. Glossaries and terminology lists were compiled in collaboration with the interpreters to ensure consistency and accuracy across all sessions. The preparation phase also included a technical rehearsal in coordination with the client’s IT team, allowing both our interpreters and event organizers to test the platforms, ensure proper audio-video configuration, and confirm that the interpretation channels were correctly integrated with the livestream.
Event Delivery and Coordination
During the summit, Language Solutions provided simultaneous interpretation services with a mix of on-site and remote interpreters, depending on the specific session. Our team worked closely with the event organizers and the technical staff to monitor audio quality, channel switching, and interpreter handovers. Continuous communication among interpreters, coordinators, and technicians was maintained throughout the event, ensuring real-time problem solving and minimal disruption. The English–Albanian interpretation ran smoothly across the key panels and workshops, providing all participants, regardless of location, with equal access to the discussion.
Our coordination team remained engaged behind the scenes, providing operational support and adapting to any last-minute changes in the program. Given the high number of participants and the real-time streaming element, it was essential to maintain both accuracy and consistency across different sessions and platforms. The successful delivery of the multilingual component was the result of both thorough planning and flexible execution by experienced professionals. Language Solutions continues to support EU summit interpreting services, EU conference interpretation, and remote and hybrid conference interpreting, ensuring that language is never a barrier to regional cooperation and dialogue.
Conclusion and Feedback
Following the event, we received encouraging feedback from the organizers, who appreciated our responsiveness, professionalism, and ability to deliver high-quality interpretation under complex conditions. It was gratifying to know that the multilingual aspect of the event was recognized as a strong contributing factor to its success. The smooth collaboration between our team and the client, from the first inquiry to the final debrief, highlighted the importance of structured coordination, appropriate interpreter selection, and rigorous preparation. Language Solutions remains committed to supporting multilingual dialogue at this level, offering interpreting services that are both reliable and tailored to the demands of international cooperation.