During the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, in cooperation with the European Commission, the European Cultural Foundation, and the foreign ministries of Austria and the Netherlands, will organise the international conference New Paradigms, New Models – Culture in the EU External Relations which will be held in Ljubljana on 13 and 14 May 2008.

The conference represents the follow-up to similar events that focused on culture in a globalising world, deriving from the European Commission Communication on a European agenda for culture in a globalising world (10 May 2007) where the culture is outlined as a vital element of the EU external relations at the strategic level.

The conference will gather participants from the EU and neighbouring regions – the Western Balkans, the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe – who will discuss effective integration of culture into the EU external relations. Based on the experience and know-how of cultural organisations active in the area of international cooperation, art networks and artists, researchers and officials from the European institutions and foreign ministries will address the question of the modern role of culture in the EU external relations.

The conference will also be attended by distinguished guests, including Slovenian Foreign Minister Dr Dimitrij Rupel, the President of the European Parliament Mr Hans-Gert Pöttering, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture, and Youth Mr Ján Figeľ, European Commissioner for Science and Research Dr Janez Potočnik, and Minister of European Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Mr Frans Timmermans.

For more information please contact: Ms Gabi Matkovič, gabi.matkovic1(at)gov.si (01 478 12 61) or Ms Jasmina Pavlin, jasmina.pavlin1(at)gov.si (01 478 20 56). Please confirm your participation on the conference to the aforementioned email addresses until May 9 2008.

Conference programme (eng)

Press invitations (eng)

East European Reflection Group