The first annual ECSPM symposium was hosted by the Hellenic Open University and supported by the School of Education of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens on 1 December 2017. Attended by 100 language professionals, it addressed three themes a) the social, aesthetic and linguistic literacies for the creative participation in European societies of displaced populations and people in adversity; b) the role of translation, technology and linguistic resources for the safeguarding of multilingualism in Europe; c) The work of other ECSPM member and partner organisations.