A never witnessed participation rate underlined the success of the 1st major EFA meeting in 2006: more than 20 participants of the national festivals associations and the networks being member of EFA signed up for the 2-day conference on 27, 28 and 29 January 2006. This meeting was organized in co-operation with Italiafestival. “The meeting reinforced co-operation among festivals and the idea of a Europe of culture and art”, as Evelina de Stefani states in her report published on the Italiafestival website. In the framework of a press conference, Nick Dodds, Chairman of BAFA, Tuomo Tirkkonen, Director of Swedish Festivals, Darko Brlek, EFA President and Hugo De Greef, EFA Secretary General and more representatives from our host including Alberto Francesconi, President of Agis, Franco Punzi, Italiafestival President and Gisella Belgeri, Italiafestival Vice-President, discussed with various journalists the role festivals have in terms of tourism and the economic growth of a city. Watch the list of participants and the programme related to the conference.