Felix Meritis - Europees centrum voor kunst, cultuur en wetenschap

A Soul for Europe bi-annual conference

The Berlin Conferences A Soul for Europe have been held in November 2004, 2006 and 2008 under the auspices of the A Soul for Europe initiative with several partners from across Europe, including the Felix Meritis Foundation.

The potential of culture as an indispensable force in the process of European integration is progressively recognised.  This gives added impetus to the purpose of reshaping Europe in a way that engages not only the political and economic but also the creative aspirations of its citizens.

the next edition of THE BERLIN CONFERENCE- A SOUL FOR EUROPE will take place in November 2010.
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THE BERLIN CONFERENCE- A SOUL FOR EUROPE 2008
EUROPEAN CULTURE BOOSTING SOCIETY, POLITICS AND ECONOMY

The third Berlin Conference of the civil society initiative "A Soul for Europe" brought together high-ranking European politicians and business people with representatives of the world of culture. As it was the case during the previous conferences in 2004 and 2006, the participants debated the idea of giving Europe's social, economic and political development a cultural core.

Culture at the heart of European policies - the example of economy
If this objective is to be achieved, people in Europe must not remain passive observers but increasingly become active players in the European project. In addition to the role played by culture itself, many sectors of politics and society need to devise a cultural component of their own. In advocating this approach, the initiative "A Soul for Europe" and the Berlin Conference are responding inter alia to the "European Agenda for Culture" adopted by the EU institutions in 2007. This has ushered in a paradigm shift by moving culture to the heart of all areas of politics. The conference addresses the requirements and practical consequences of such a strategy by taking the European economy in its globalised context as an example.  Discussants  in 2008 included Roland Berger (Roland Berger Strategy Consultants), Louis Schweitzer (Renault) and Gunter Thielen (Bertelsmann Foundation).

New forms of cooperation between civil society and politicians
The focus of the second day of the conference was on new forms of cooperation between civil society, institutions, parliaments and governments in Europe as well as on methods of achieving the targets set. The initiative "A Soul for Europe" will undergo internal restructuring as of 2009 to facilitate its contribution to the implementation strategy.

Rejuvenation
The initiative and the Berlin Conference attach paramount importance to a process of rejuvenation. From 2009 onwards "A Soul for Europe" will be run by an international network of about forty young decision-makers from a variety of professions. One of their tasks will be to further address the implications of the conference.

Among many the European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering, European Commissioners Jan Figel' and Meglena Kuneva and The Netherlands Minister for European Affairs,  Mr. Frans Timmermans have given their contributions to the conference.

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BERLIN CONFERENCE - A SOUL FOR EUROPE 2006

In a passionate speech during the 2006 edition, the film director Wim Wenders called on the political establishment to rejuvenate enthusiasm for a Europe that celebrates civilisation, promotes humanism and enables its people to realise their dreams.

 

The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, said, ‘Culture is the keystone of the sense of belonging that Europe needs. By facilitating dialogue, culture opens the way to development in an increasingly multicultural and multilingual society.' He continued, ‘Europe, which ‘invented' tolerance for individuals, for their opinions, for their beliefs and for their differences, must make its own special voice heard.'

 

The philanthropist George Soros argued that the European Union ‘can set an example for the world in international co-operation both within its own borders and beyond. All that is needed now is for the people of Europe to be inspired by the idea of the European Union as the prototype of a global open society.'

 

The final session on 19 November was open to a wider public and devoted to exploring the Jewish and Islamic dimension of creating an open Europe. Nilufer Göle, professor of Sociology in Paris was a key note speaker.

 

Thanks to The People Network, 38 young decision makers from all over Europe were selected and invited to participate in the international Berlin Conference.

For the 2006 conference Documents see below in "Project attachments" 

For the 2004 conference Documents click here. 

External Link: http://www.berlinerkonferenz.eu/

 

 

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