As there is often not enough time during Regional Meetings to have more detailed exchanges, the Region decided to hold an informal discussion on remote simultaneous interpreting in place of March’s Stammtisch. It was a lively event, with a lot of food for thought.

Is RSI here to stay? Will it become the solution of choice for some meetings even after the pandemic is over? Different points of view were voiced and experiences shared. For some colleagues, it is a necessary evil to be endured in the hope of returning to in-person meetings as soon as possible. For others, it has been an unexpectedly welcome window into a more flexible future. Information and first-hand experience on well-established and new platforms were exchanged. Opinions seemed to be very divided also on the new business models that have made their appearance alongside RSI. Some emerging ethical issues linked to RSI were vigorously debated. It was a very open and honest exchange of views and, in the end, the general consensus was that RSI is here to stay, even though not all interpreters are equally comfortable with the concept and/or the technical requirements of this new way of delivering interpreting services.