Language skills are vital to economic success, says the schools minister on the European Day of Languages.

Schools Minister Catherine Ashton also announced that the United Kingdom will be joining the European Centre for Modern Languages - a specialist centre for teaching languages, based in Austria.

"Language skills are crucial to our future well-being and prosperity - apart from all the fun they bring," she said.

"Throughout our schools and colleges we must strengthen our commitment to language learning and make the very best of the linguistic richness and diversity of our own multicultural communities."

Joining the Centre for Modern Languages, set up by the Council of Europe, was evidence of this commitment, she said.

'Cutting-edge'

"The European Centre for Modern Languages is at the cutting-edge of developing and implementing practical new approaches to modern foreign language teaching."

Earlier this year an inquiry into language teaching in the UK concluded that a radical overhaul was necessary to tackle a serious weakness in language skills.

There will be events marking the European Day of Languages in 45 countries, which will help to raise awareness of language learning.

This will include the "Languages Lift-Off", in which balloons will be launched from 18 venues across the continent - with the UK's event taking place beside Tower Bridge in London.

But a survey earlier this year suggested that the UK had some way to go before catching up with the language skills held by people in other European countries.

While across the European Union, an average of 53% people knew at least one other language than their own, in the UK this figure was 34%.