4. Technical Requirements

4.1 Pre-Treatment Packages 

For the purpose of pre-treatment, we separate documents in two main categories: monolingual documents, i.e. documents translated from one source language, and multilingual documents, documents with several source languages. 

Both monolingual and multilingual documents are further divided into one-column documents and two-column documents. One column documents are standard texts, two-column documents are EP specific documents containing amendments.  

Two-column amendments have a standard format. On the left side they contain the original text, which can be amended. On the right side, they contain the proposed new text. 

Depending on the type of document, the EP prepares the relevant pre-translation packages. 

   Infographic: Pre-treatment packages

For an overview on pre-treatment packages, please refer to the video below. 

4.2 Monolingual documents

Inside each package, there are three folders: TMX folder, source and target language folders. Additionally, each package contains three pdf-files: page count report, Safe Working Protocol and general instructions for contractors. 

The source language folder contains the original file in its original format, the SDLxliff conversion of the original file format and the pre-translated document against the Normative TM and/or the BRTM. 

The target language folder contains the SDLxliff conversion of the original file format and the pre-translated document.

The TMX folder contains tmx files corresponding to references useful for translation, which have been imported into the translation memories according to the Safe Working Protocol (SWP). 

For more information on monolingual documents, please refer to the following video. 

4.3 Multilingual Documents

The pre-treatment package for a multilingual document contains individually zipped packages for each source to target language combination, as well as support files. 

The content of the individual SL-TL zip package is different depending on whether: a) the source language is EN or any other language and b) the document contains two-column amendments or not. 

Online training session on technical pre- and post-processing of multilingual amendments

Three part video recording of the 13th February 2025 training below:

4.4 Safe Working Protocols 

Please download the ETU safe working protocol for your project from the table below:

4.5 BoldItalics marco for Word

The BoldItalics macro is included in the pre-treatment package. The "SuggestBoldItalic" is a Visual Basic application designed to use with documents that feature a two-column format, such as the AM document type in the European Parliament. This application compares the content of the left-hand column with the content of the right-hand column, highlighting differences in bold and italics.

To launch the application, double-click the "SuggestBoldItalic.exe" file. It can process either the entire document or selected parts, based on your preference set before running the application. Note that it is only compatible with Microsoft Word. 

4.6 SPA+ Page Count 

The page count module performs the page count calculation and generates the page count reports. It is an integral part of the Safe Working Protocol Automation (SPA) pre-treatment system. 

The page count module provides the calculation of gross pages (the total number of translation pages) and net pages (the number of translation pages taking into account the potentially reusable segments from the Euramis retrieval). The calculation is done based on the self-alignment and retrieval TMX files of the original document sent for translation. The self-alignment TMX file is used for the calculation of gross and net pages, whereas the retrieval TMX file is used to calculate the net pages only. 

  Infographic: The SPA+ page count module                    

4.7 Segmentation Rules

The European Parliament uses specific segmentation rules, which are detailed in the translation memories provided to you. You are required to adhere to our segmentation rules when translating. Additionally, please preserve the segmentation of the original document whenever feasible. 

4.8 EP Official Documents

DocEP is an MS Word add-in used in the European Parliament. It allows to create documents which contain the official standard phrases encoded in the Recueil de Modèles (RdM). Additionally, it adds the necessary tags, codes, styles and properties, which are used for publication of the documents in the Public Register (generation of a bibliographical note) and on Europarl (conversion into xml by Europarl services).

Please note that the requirements for translated documents stipulate that the wording and presentation must comply with the official RdM models. In addition, tagging, codes, styles and document properties must be correct in order for the documents to be published on the Europarl website and in the Public Register. 

You can find information on the latest version of DocEP for external translators and installation instructions on the dedicated website https://www.europarl.europa.eu/portalep/Downloads/docep/repere/docep/Welcome.html.

Infographic: EP Official Documents