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Tunisia3rd Euro-Mediterranean Forum on Inter-Cultural Dialogue to help young people be drivers for change
October 24, 2016
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The 3rd Edition of the Anna Lindh Foundation organised Euro-Mediterranean Forum on Intercultural Dialogue is taking place in Valetta, Malta from 23 – 25 October. With civil society organisations from almost 50 countries alongside leading international organisations, the Forum represents – with its 800 participants – the largest single gathering of actors working on intercultural dialogue. The EU, a leading donor of the Foundation, aims to tackle the unprecedented challenges in the Mediterranean region, particularly those affecting youth – unemployment, radicalisation, migration – by fostering dialogue among the younger generations and improving inter-cultural relations.
This is in line with the EU’s commitment to promoting international cultural relations and cultural diplomacy, as confirmed by the EU strategy for international cultural relations issued in June. Supporting the Anna Lindh Foundation and its network is one of the actions the Strategy foresees to promote culture and inter-cultural dialogue for peaceful inter-community relations.
The Malta Forum will discuss: ‘Moving beyond the Extremist Narrative: Youth on the Frontline’ and also host the launching of the EU-funded initiative ‘Young Mediterranean Voices,’ following the success of its forerunner ‘Young Arab Voices.’
Speaking ahead of the event, High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini said: “We have a responsibility to create new pathways for our region’s young people to be the drivers of change. And we need to start today, not tomorrow. This was the original idea behind the Young Arab Voices programme, launched by the Anna Lindh Foundation five years ago. Today we know that our young people in Europe feel many of the same passions, fears and aspirations of their Arab peers. We dream the same dreams. So for me, the evolution from ‘Young Arab Voices’ to ‘Young Mediterranean Voices’ is only natural.”
Culture, she underlined, “is a powerful tool to build bridges between people, notably youth, and reinforce mutual understanding.”
The Forum falls on the eve of Malta assuming the Presidency of the European Council from January 2017. One of the major objectives of the gathering is to develop policy recommendations for regional cooperation and inputs for the Maltese Presidency. The Southern neighbourhood region and youth are on top of the EU political agenda, as confirmed in the recently launched EU Global Strategy for Foreign and Security Policy.
The Anna Lindh Foundation for Inter-Cultural Dialogue promotes knowledge, mutual respect and inter-cultural dialogue between the people of the Euro-Mediterranean region, working through a network of more than 3,000 civil society organisations in 43 countries. Its budget is co-funded by the EU (EUR 10 million) and the EU Member States (EUR 6 million). (EU Neighbourhood Info)
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Mediterranean Forum – webpage
Mediterranean Forum – programme
Anna Lindh Foundation – fiche and news
Anna Lindh Foundation – website
