It’s good to talk

When, on 13 February 2007, I outlined my programme to the European parliament, I gave a firm commitment that intercultural dialogue would be one of the top priorities of my entire mandate.

From the outset, I have devoted a lot of time and energy to this dialogue, including on every single one of my official visits, within the EU, to the countries of the southern Mediterranean, and in the wider world.

It is my firmly-held conviction, that such dialogue is not only desirable but in fact essential if we are to ensure peace and tolerance in this world of the 21st century.

As 2008 was designated European year of inter-cultural dialogue, this allowed the European parliament to place a special emphasis on the issue throughout the year. Now that we approach the close of 2008, it is useful to review our progress.

This European year has been a visible expression of our ever stronger political commitment to incorporating intercultural issues into EU policies. Peaceful coexistence between cultures and religions, both in the EU and on the other side of the Mediterranean, in the Middle East, is possible and of the utmost importance for our future.

I believe that the special focus which 2008 brought helps us to face the fact that the relationship between Islamic and Western societies is going to be increasingly central to life in Europe, and to politics in the wider world, in the years to come.

This is one of the major challenges of the 21st century and the issue is how we engage in an active dialogue of cultures. Throughout 2008, the European parliament has organised and hosted a wide range of intercultural activities and initiatives. We have invited a series of eminent personalities to address parliament’s plenary sessions.

The series began in January with the Grand Mufti of Syria Sheikh Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassoun. Other speakers include the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Mrs Asma Jahangir, the UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations Mr Jorge Sampaio, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew, and the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, Sir Jonathon Sacks.

The final plenary speaker in the series will be His Holiness the Dalai Lama who will address parliament on 4 December in Brussels.

Each of our Committees and bilateral delegations incorporated the theme into its work programme. In September, in collaboration with the African Union and the bilateral Embassies, we hosted an Africa Week in the European parliament.

In early November we hosted Arab Week, which was organised together with the Arab League, whose Secretary General Amr Mussa came to parliament to join me for the official opening of the occasion.

Right through the year an intercultural dialogue film festival has been running within parliament, with films from across the EU which focus on the theme of cross-community relations, minorities and tolerance. We hope that these events, including seminars, expositions and concerts, helped to illustrate just how enriching the exchange of cultures can be.

Convinced that young people are the future of the Mediterranean region, in May we invited young Israeli and Palestinian leaders for four days of dialogue with young Europeans on the problems of the region.

From 15-17 November, EuroScola – an initiative whereby schoolchildren from all EU countries take part in a programme of “parliamentary activities” within the European parliament – was, for the first time ever, extended to the 10 Southern Mediterranean countries.

So participants were drawn from right across the membership of the new Union for the Mediterranean. I sincerely hope that this ‘EuroMedScola’ will become an annual event.

Dialogue can act as a bridge, a bridge towards peace, a bridge over the Mediterranean, linking states, peoples and human beings. Let us recall that this region, bordering the Mare Nostrum, is a region that gave birth to the world’s three great monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

People from all three religions have lived in close proximity for centuries; sadly, not always in peaceful relationship with each other. At the same time there are numerous examples in the region of religious tolerance, of harmonious relations between peoples of different religious convictions and cultural backgrounds.

During my official visit to Syria, I had the opportunity to meet spiritual leaders of all the various traditions and they assured me of the excellent conditions pertaining in that country with regard to freedom of religious expression.

The EU must remain open and tolerant. We must seek to build bridges and to come to a deep understanding of other cultures. Most importantly we must have respect for other cultures. At the same time we must remain faithful to our own values, underpinned by the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity. Democracy, rule of law, human rights, freedom of expression - all these are part of our values.

The cornerstone of our European values system is respect for the dignity of each and every human person.