Youth Event: "Young People - Agents of Intercultural Dialogue"

The youth event is a European meeting of young people organised by every Presidency. It fosters dialogue between young people and policy makers on all levels. It highlights the importance placed by public authorities on involving young people in the decisions affecting them and achieving their full participation in society.

The youth event hosted by the French Presidency focused on intercultural dialogue and "young people's role as agents of intercultural dialogue", in the context of the 'European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008' (EYID).

The event took place in Marseilles from 5 to 9 July 2008.
It was attended by 120 young representatives from 37 different countries (Member States of the European Union and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the Balkans and other countries around the Mediterranean.

Five issues were addressed:
1) Intercultural dialogue on a daily level,
2) Youth involvement in intercultural dialogue,
3) Measures accompanying as part of the intercultural dialogue process,
4) Challenges and opportunities for intercultural dialogue: focus on mobility,
5) Tools and communication in the different fields of intercultural dialogue.

The results of the discussions between young people were formalised in the conclusions of the plenary session with policy makers on 9 July. The 27 Directors-General, the European Commissioner for Youth and the French Secretary of State for Sport, Youth and the Voluntary Sector attended the presentation in the Palais du Pharo. They will be passed onto the Council of European ministers for youth on 21 November 2008.

To illustrate in music the dialogue between cultures, the conductor Daniel Barenboïm gave an exclusive concert on 8 July with the 'West-Eastern Divan Orchestra' composed of 80 young musicians mainly from Israel, Palestine, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.

Conclusions of the Working Groups

• Updated: 18.12.2008

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