How is civil society involved?
The European Year provides an excellent opportunity for civil society organisations and foundations in particular to promote intercultural dialogue and understanding by providing a platform for promotion, networking, knowledge-sharing and partnerships both with public and private stakeholders. Below you will find some initiatives led by foundations and other civil society organisations, which aim to support the overall goal of the Year.
Civil Society Platform for Intercultural Dialogue
Jointly initiated in 2006 by the European Cultural Foundation and the European Forum for the Arts and Heritage, the Civil Society Platform for Intercultural Dialogue is designed as a cross-sectoral alliance of civil society organisations which consider culture as a central component of their activities. The Platform receives financial support from the Network of European Foundations (NEF).
The Platform aims to:
- Demonstrate the range and variety of practices of intercultural dialogue;
- Stimulate, strengthen and promote initiatives and projects for intercultural dialogue;
- Build stronger cooperation in intercultural dialogue between the arts and other sectors;
- Formulate ideas for political measures supporting intercultural dialogue; and
- Establish a structured consultation process/system with European political institutions on policies for intercultural dialogue.
Although the initiative is centred around culture, organisations from other fields are invited to participate. 96 organisations from across Europe are currently involved in this platform.
> Go to the Civil Society Platform for Intercultural Dialogue website
Foundations' specific initiatives
Under the umbrella of the Network of European Foundations (NEF), a group of European foundations have launched a cluster of initiatives designed to build a decisive contribution to the European Year in order to strengthen civil society's input into the development of European and national policies and practices. It is hoped that this collaborative effort will facilitate partnerships between the public and private sector on initiatives in the areas of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. The cluster is led by the European Cultural Foundation with support from the Compagnia di San Paolo, Evens Stichting, Van Leer Group Foundation, King Baudouin Foundation, Stiftelsen Riksbankens Jubileumsfond and the European Forum for the Arts and Heritage.
The following initiatives are already underway:
An analysis of foundations' activities aimed at highlighting the best projects, good practices and policy recommendations in the fields of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue;
A European film/TV documentary illustrating the challenges of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue; and
Support to the Civil Society Platform for Intercultural Dialogue.
> Go to the NEF website
Tell us about your work in this area!
If you are already undertaking or planning to carry out activities in the area of intercultural dialogue and/or in relation to the European Year, please let us know. Send details of your work to the EFC Secretariat c/o E.Faure:
- by email to eu
- by post to the European Foundation Centre (EFC), 78 avenue de la Toison d'Or, B-1060 Brussels
- by fax: +32 2 512 3265
About the 2008 European Year
The European Commission has designated 2008 as the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. The European Year is part of the EU's efforts to promote intercultural dialogue and competences within the EU and beyond.
Objectives
The Year aims to:
- Promote intercultural dialogue as an instrument to assist EU citizens and residents in acquiring knowledge and aptitudes that will enable them to deal with a more open and more complex environment;
- Highlight intercultural dialogue as an opportunity to contribute to and benefit from a diverse and dynamic society, not only in Europe but also in the rest of the world;
- Raise awareness among EU citizens, in particular young people, of the importance of developing active European citizenship which is open to the world, respectful of cultural diversity and based on common values held in the EU; and
- Highlight the contribution of different cultures and expressions of cultural diversity to the heritage and ways of life of Member States.
Budget and activities
The overall budget assigned to this initiative is €10 million, which will be used for activities at the European and national levels in the following manner:
- Events and initiatives on a European scale aimed at promoting intercultural dialogue;
- Events and initiatives at national and regional levels that have a strong European dimension aimed at promoting the objectives of the Year's objectives;
- Information and promotional campaigns, particularly those done in cooperation with the media and civil society organisations, at Community and national level to publicise the key messages and good practices promoted by the Year; and
- Surveys and studies carried out at Community and/or national level and in consultation with transnational networks and civil society stakeholders.
Implementation
Member States are requested to submit their national strategies for the Year providing the national context and priorities for the Year and setting out the actions foreseen to involve civil society and the media in order to reach young people and other target groups and measures to be taken in the education field.
Every Member State will also appoint a National Implementing Body (NIB), which will be responsible for the implementation of the Year in their respective country.
Read the Decision on the European Year
Go to the European Commission website on the European Year