The European House for Culture – together with the Marcel Hicter Association, the Access to Culture Platform, "A Soul for Europe", the Festival of Philosophy, as well as its partners the European Festivals Association, ENCATC, European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) and Felix Meritis – will bring "A Cultural Coalition for a Citizens' Europe" to Brussels for the first Brussels Conversations 2012 to take place on 16-17 November at the Palais des Académies. The 2-day conference will invite participants to discuss the future of the European project and the citizen’s role in making it a reality. The European Parliament voted on 23 October 2012 to designate 2013 the European Year of Citizens, aiming to raise awareness of EU citizens' rights. Developing citizenship in Europe is one of the essential needs that should be addressed during the European Year of Citizens 2013 and the Cultural Coalition for a Citizens’ Europe believes that culture can be a help, and the essential driver to increasing this spirit of belonging to a shared space of human values, rights and responsibilities. Participants of the Brussels Conversations – more than 120 have registered already – have expressed their eagerness to actively engage in discussing a citizen-led European future: “The economic arguments are being made for the Culture and Creative Sectors. Now it is time to harness this energy to ensure the 'quality of life' of citizens. I am interested to explore how more people can be brought in contact with their own creativity and reach their full potential,” says participant Diane Dodd of ARTidea. The programme features strong voices acting for a better Europe. Speakers include Luuk van Middelaar (Historian, Political Philosopher, Author), Patrice Meyer-Bisch (Coordinator Interdisciplinary Institute for Ethics and Human Rights, UNESCO Chair for Human Rights and Democracy, University of Fribourg, Switzerland), Alicja Gescinska (Philosopher, Writer), and moderator Annelies Beck (Journalist, Writer). Contributing to the conversations are Paul Scheffer (Writer, Publicist, Professor Urban Sociology, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands), Anna Luyten (Journalist), Peter Vermeersch (Initiator G1000 citizens' summit), Jacques De Decker (Permanent Secretary Académie Royale de Langue et de Littérature Françaises de Belgique, Author, Playwright, President Philosophy Festival) and many more. Their conversations will be enriched by active participants joining the discussions. Registration is still open. Spread the word about this opportunity to work across sectors to build a Cultural Coalition. For questions please contact the European House for Culture (Zachery Bishop, culturalcoalition@houseforculture.eu, +32 2 644 48 00).