Twenty years after the first Berlin Conference in 2004, when the initiative A Soul for Europe was initiated, we are more than ever convinced of the importance of exploring and embracing the innovative approaches of arts and culture for the European project together. With the past 20 years as a reference and asset, there is a need to nurture a collective vision for the future by listening to the diverse individual narratives and experiences of decision makers and artistically and culturally driven actors from different parts of Europe.

In 2024, both the recent European Union elections and the US elections in November – just two days before the conference begins – represent decisive moments for democracies in Europe. With the results of the elections in Europe and the clear message that we have to fight for democratic development, the Berlin Conference will have the opportunity to respond to the outcome and the consequent political ramifications. With the enlargement of the European Union on 1 May 2004 and today 20 years later bringing Europeans together and developing a common purpose is still an unfinished task and more relevant than ever. The EU today requires not only political reforms, but also closer interaction with civil society, because enlargement policy is above all a cultural process.

Detailed programme available here.

Before the official opening of the Conference on 7 November, there will be an informal 'Community Meet-up' in which EFA Members and EFFE Seal Cities and Regions are invited to participate as of 9.00. If you would also like to join, please send an e-mail to Ana Benavides Otero at ana@efa-aef.eu. Discover the programme.

13.00 CONVERSATION: 20 YEARS OF BERLIN CONFERENCE & EU ENLARGEMENT
The role and place of arts and culture in Europe

• Hans-Gert Pöttering, former President of the European Parliament
  Doris Pack, former Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education of the European Parliament
• Yuriy Vulkovsky, former Deputy Minister of Culture (Bulgaria) & Executive Director of Narodni Chitalishta Foundation
• Hannes Swoboda, former Chair of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament
• Q&A Session hosted by Volker Hassemer, founder of Stiftung Zukunft Berlin & former Senator for Urban Development and Environment

14.45 CONVERSATION: UNDERSTANDING THE NOW
How are arts & culture driving today’s political debates & the future of Europe?

• Salome Zurabishvili, President of Georgia
• Maryia Gabriel, former European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth & former Minister of Foreign Affairs (Bulgaria)
• Michael Roth, Member of the German Bundestag & Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Q&A Session hosted by Farid Tabarki, Founding Director of Studio Zeitgeist

9.40 IN CONVERSATION WITH

• Doris Pack, former Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education of the European Parliament
• Maryia Gabriel, former European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth & former Minister of Foreign Affairs (Bulgaria)
• Haris Pašović, Theatre Director from Sarajevo, Bosnia
• Hosted by Kathrin Deventer, Secretary General of European Festivals Association & Strategy Group Member of A Soul for Europe

11.00 IN CONVERSATION WITH

• Aiva Rozenberga, Lielā Talka, Riga, Latvia
• Alison Mooney, Poet and former Speechwriter at the President of the European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium
• Hosted by: Nicolas Bertrand, Member of A Soul for Europe

12.15 BREAKOUT SESSIONS
During parallel sessions, participants will engage in discussions to
consolidate what was shared in the plenary conversations. Divided into
smaller groups, they will explore diverse perspectives and address key
concerns about Europe’s future. Each group will be guided by a speaker and a
host, to allow for a focused exchange of ideas.

• GROUP 1: James McVeigh, Festivals Edinburgh (Scotland)
  Hosted by Simon Mundy, Strategy Group Member of A Soul for Europe

• GROUP 2: Dominika Kasprowicz, Villa Decius (Krakow, Poland)
  Hosted by Dejan Ubovic, Strategy Group Member of A Soul for Europe & Director of KC Grad (Belgrade, Serbia)

• GROUP 3: Urszula Bertin, XENION - Psychosoziale Hilfen für politisch Verfolgte e.V. (Berlin, Germany)
  Hosted by Susana Marques, Strategy Group Member of A Soul for Europe

• GROUP 4: Creativity for social change: How creativity can influence the societies we are living in and spark systemic change from the bottom up by Adama Sanneh, Co-Founder and CEO Moleskine Foundation (Milan, Italy)
  Hosted by Giusy Chierchia, Strategy Group Member of A Soul for Europe

• GROUP 5: Necati Sönmez, Film critic & documentary filmmaker (Istanbul, Turkey)
  Hosted by Özlem Cengel, Strategy Group Member of A Soul for Europe

• GROUP 6: Emily Ansenk, Director Holland Festival (The Netherlands)
  Hosted by Veselin Dimov, Strategy Group Member of A Soul for Europe

• GROUP 7: Fernando Dias Costa, Musician, Grupo Sal (Tübingen, Germany)
  Hosted by Max Oliver Schmidt, Director of Studies Migration and Europe, Evangelische Akademie zu Berlin

15.00 PLENARY: FROM CONVERSATIONS TO ANALYSIS
Political and Cultural analysts synthesise the day's discussions into
actionable policy proposals for the local, national, and European levels.

• Lars Ebert, Secretary General for Culture Action Europe (Brussels, Belgium)
• Natalie Giorgadze, General Director for Culture Action Europe (Brussels, Belgium)
• Rarita Zbranca, Programme Director for Cluj Cultural Center (Cluj, Romania)
• Davinia Galea, Founder and Managing Director for ARC Research & Consultancy (Malta)
• Elena Polivtseva, Co-Founder Culture Policy Room and Research Expert for Goethe Institute (Brussels, Belgium)
• Paweł Zerka, Senior Policy Fellow for European Council on Foreign Relations (Paris, France)
• Adelheid Feilcke, Director of Programs for Europe at Deutsche Welle (Berlin, Germany)

16.30 PLENARY: FROM ANALYSIS TO ACTION
Decision-makers from local, national, and EU levels commit to political
processes by exploring synergies and opportunities to create a joint
agenda.

• Samuel Azzopardi, President of the Gozo Region (Malta)
• Shaqir Totaj, Mayor of Prizren (Kosovo)
• Marcos Ros Sempere, Member of European Parliament (Spain)
• John Boxall, Mayor of Birgu (Malta)
• Katti Hoflin, Director for cultural affairs in Västra Götaland (Sweden)
• José Ribau Esteves, Mayor of Aveiro (Portugal)
• Stefan Fassbinder, Mayor of Greifswald (Germany)