Church and Society Commission of CEC

INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE

European Union

The European Union has declared the year 2008 “European Year of Intercultural Dialogue”. The initiative aims at reinforcing social cohesion and civic peace in Europe. It stems from the acknowledgement that Europeans must learn to live together in diversity increased by circulation of people and ideas. The year also seeks to give expression and a high profile to best practices and process of intercultural dialogue and to establish a sustainable strategy beyond 2008.

As a part of their contribution for the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), the Church and Society Commission of CEC (CEC) and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), in association with Muslim partners, will organise a series of seminars under the overall theme of “Islam, Christianity and Europe”.

NEW! See the new webpage on the: Islam, Christianity and Europe - Project

CSC Briefing Paper on Intercultural Dialogue within the European Union, November 2007

The EU website for the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008: European Year of Intercultural Dialogue

Council of Europe

In the spring 2007 the Council of Europe organised a public consultation on intercultural dialogue. The consultation prepares the White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue, due to be published in early 2008.

The White Paper shall formulate a coherent and long-term policy for the promotion of intercultural dialogue within Europe and between Europe and its neighbouring regions. Furthermore, it shall serve as a reference document to policy makers and practitioners at national, regional and local levels, providing them with guidelines and analytical and methodological tools for the promotion of intercultural dialogue.

In addition to the general questionnaire, the Council of Europe addressed targeted groups with specific sets of questions, among them churches and religious communities and migrants’ organisations. CSC/CEC and Churches Commission for Migrants’ in Europe (CCME) produced a joint response. The theme of intercultural dialogue received high interest among the constituencies. CSC/CEC and CCME received 30 individual responses from their members. These were submitted to the Council of Europe along with CSC/CEC and CCME's joint response.

CSC/CEC and CCME's joint response to the Council of Europe White Paper consultation on Intercultural Dialogue

CSC/CEC and CCME member churches and organisations' individual responses to the Council of Europe White Paper Consultation on Intercultural Dialogue

CSC Briefing on the Council of Europe "White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue, April 2008

In June 2007, the CSC/CEC Plenary Meeting which took place in Armenia addressed the issue of intercultural dialogue. Mr. Ulrich Bunjes, coordinator of the Council of Europe's Office for Intercultural Dialogue, was invited and delivered a speech responding to CSC/CEC and CCME's joint response.

The Council of Europe website on intercultural dialogue: Intercultural Dialogue