"Intercultural dialogue at the heart of Europe's cities and regions,", Committee of Regions, Brussels, 25-26 November 2008.

As part of the forum a Photo exhibition "European Works" (VU' photo agency-Notre Europe) is introduced in the Committee of Regions from november 25 2008.

Objectives of the forum

The forum is organised in partnership with the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education and Culture and will take place in parallel with the Committee of the Regions' November plenary session. It is an opportunity

− to define where Europe's cities and regions stand in relation to intercultural dialogue;

− to debate the situation on the ground, illustrating the role of local and regional authorities in relation to policies which impact on the integration of immigrant communities;

− to highlight best practice, and to give certain high profile "Ambassadors" of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue an opportunity to enrich the debate and to address the members of the Committee of the Regions during their Plenary Session of 27-28 November;

− to address the debate from an European perspective - against the backdrop of fostering a common European identity - focusing on three thematic priorities :

• challenges posed by mobility in an enlarged Europe
• migration and integration,
• inter-faith dialogue: rôle in local governance and contribution to social and cultural cohesion.

− to contribute to the debate on the draft opinion on integration policies and intercultural dialogue during the Plenary Session on 26 November. This opinion has been prepared by Mr Milan Belica (President of the autonomous region of Nitra, Slovakia) at the request of the French presidency of the European Union. Its adoption will be an occasion to hear the views of local and regional authority associations.

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