English is the lingua franca of Europeans as two thirds speak the language which has squeezed out all its rivals

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2436051/English-lingua-franca-Europeans-thirds-speak-language-squeezed-rivals.html

"Two thirds of Europeans have at least working knowledge of English."

This article by Steve Doughty reports the finding of a 2014 EU report - that the English language is now the unrivaled common tongue of Europe, being the most widely learned and understood foreign language in all but five countries - and continues to grow.

Also found was the fact that French is not considered the preferred second language in any country across Europe - notable as French was once the primary language of Diplomacy across the continent and the globe.

The growth of English across Europe is cited as being chiefly responsible for the lack of interest in foreign languages in the British education system.