Democracy, rights, human values and participation: The European House for Culture and its partners invite to join the Brussels Conversations 2012 on “the Cultural Coalition for a Citizens’ Europe” to discuss citizenship in Europe with 30 contributors and 140 participants. The Brussels Conversations take place on 16 and 17 November and are hosted by the Académie Royale de Langue et de Littérature Françaises de Belgique at the Palais des Académies. Luuk van Middelaar (Historian, Political Philosopher, Author of “The passage to Europe. History of a Beginning”), 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), Paul Scheffer (Writer, Publicist, Professor of European Studies, Tilburg School of Humanities), Anna Luyten (Essayist, Guest Professor of Philosophy, School of Arts, Ghent), Peter Vermeersch (Initiator G1000 citizens' summit), and moderator Annelies Beck (Journalist, Writer) will exchange with participants on questions of Europe and its citizens: their collective creativity and power to create change are Europe’s greatest natural resource and the Cultural Coalition calls to take this resource more seriously. “The democratic concept of citizenship has been radically changed by the rise of globalization and mass/social media, not only in Europe but all across the globe. The politicians, civil society leaders, and civic educators must all work together to reconfigure what it means to be part of the European community,” says keynote speaker Alicja Gescinska. The Brussels Conversations 2012 are part of the Cultural Coalition for a Citizens’ Europe which was kicked-off on 10 November in Berlin with the Berlin Conference 2012. The European House for Culture and its partners take up the results at the Brussels Conversations 2012. The discussions will continue in the Amsterdam Conversations 2012 by Felix Meritis on 30 November. The Conversations in a nutshell: • Friday, 16 November, at 19.00: Opening with keynote with Luuk van Middelaar and conversation, followed by a welcome drink • Saturday, 17 November, at 9.30: Conversation continues with talks led by Patrice Meyer-Bisch in the morning and Alicja Gescinska in the afternoon, and concluded by Paul Scheffer • Download the detailed programme, including information about speakers • Location: Palais des Académies (Rue Ducale 1, 1000 Brussels) Upon registration participants will receive the newly released publication by the Access to Culture Platform entitled The Cultural Component of Citizenship: an Inventory of Challenges. The Brussels Conversations are organised in a partnership between the European House for Culture, the Marcel Hicter Association, the Access to Culture Platform, "A Soul for Europe" and the Festival of Philosophy; in collaboration with the European Festivals Association (EFA), ENCATC, EUNIC and Felix Meritis. euro|topics, the online platform providing a daily, up to date press review, is the media partner of the Brussels Conversations. Register online for the 2-day encounter. Admission is free for students.