A festival is above all a cordial meeting place where people and young audiences meet the artists, a place where mutual understanding can grow, a base where respect and empathy find fertile ground, in contrast with conflict, violence and war. Festivals aim to contribute to a peaceful society. Killing people is never the answer.

The European Festivals Association (EFA) shares the indignancy about the victims of the conflict and the violence in the Middle East.

EFA was born out of the wounds of the second world war as a project that brings arts and festival makers together from East and West, North and South: to reconcile a peaceful being together.

We call on all concerned to make peace an objective and an immediate need on their agenda.