Jonathan Mills, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, congratulates the European Festivals Association on its Diamond Jubilee. In 2012, the Edinburgh International Festival itself celebrates its 65th anniversary. “EFA is almost as old as the Edinburgh Festival. Just after World War Two, it was festivals like Edinburgh that brought back a sense of purpose and community, at a time that was devastated by war and conflict,” says Mills, and adds: “The European Festivals Association is a very powerful tool for binding together the cultural diversity that we take for granted, but should rejoice as part of our European heritage.” Watch the full video message here. Joining forces with EFA, the 2012 Edinburgh International Festival will be presented in a special event on Thursday, 22 March, in Brussels, Belgium, organised by the European Festivals Association and hosted by Flagey vzw/asb. At the occasion of the Brussels launch, Director Mills says: “This celebration at the heart of modern Europe is a timely reminder of the small but significant role that the Edinburgh International Festival has played in the European project ever since 1947. Throughout this period we have enjoyed a long and fruitful association with the European Festivals Association, while engaging a most diverse international audience in the most inspiring work from across the globe.” EFA Secretary General Kathrin Deventer adds: “‘The European Festivals Association is proud to count the Edinburgh International Festival as one of its most longstanding and active members. Festival Director Jonathan Mills engages actively in the activities set up by EFA, such as the Atelier for Young Festival Managers. In 2012, EFA itself is celebrating an anniversary: its Diamond Jubilee under the motto “60 Years On: Festivals and the World”. Together with 110 member festivals from 40 countries and partners from all over the world, we are celebrating the arts and we will raise our voice for the arts, for culture and for festivals in Europe and the world, in particular now that we see the European project at a cross-road.” Read the press release on the Brussels launch event of the 2012 Edinburgh International Festival here.