From 8-11 September 2011, the European Festivals Association and a number of its members gathered in Wroclaw at the occasion of the European Culture Congress, organised as part of the cultural programme of the Polish EU Council Presidency. Several highlights were on the agenda: “FORUM WROCŁAW”, organised by “A Soul for Europe” with a keynote speech by EFA Secretary General Kathrin Deventer; a “Check Stop meeting” organised by the European House for Culture; and a concert by the International Festival Wratislavia Cantans. Rafal Dutkiewicz, Mayor of Wroclaw, and Andrzej Kosendiak, General Director Festival Wratislavia Cantans, welcomed the following EFA members to Wroclaw: Edinburgh International Festival, Flanders Festival International, Prague Spring International Music Festival, International Festival Sarajevo Winter, and Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival. The events were organised at the occasion of the European Culture Congress. Jonathan Mills, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, acted as a member of the Congress Council. In an interview in the run-up of the Congress, he claimed that “we need a much more cosmopolitan approach to culture, and we need to recognise the uniqueness of each particular local culture. Diversity applies to every country in Europe. As the initiator of this congress, Poland represents the challenges that contemporary Europe is facing. The idea of “Solidarity” is a very meaningful testimony for all of us.” On 9 September, the European House for Culture welcomed the members of the European Festivals Association to participate in its “Check Stop meeting”, a regular gathering of the members and partners of the European House for Culture. The gathering was the moment for a presentation of the National Forum of Music (NFM), to be opened in Wroclaw in 2013. The NFM is going to be one of the most prestigious concert halls in this part of Europe. It will be the home venue of numerous festivals, including Wratislavia Cantans, and the ensembles of the Wrocław Philharmonic. Mayor Dutkiewicz underlined: “The city’s modernity is its sustainability, where culture is on a par with all other aspects of life, where culture is provided with space and funding. Where culture is understood as a phenomenon not only for those who have interest in it, but where it is sought after and accessible to all.” In the evening, Wratislavia Cantans invited EFA representatives to enjoy a concert by the Wrocław Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Jacek Kaspszyk. “Songs of Transience” was both the theme for the second week of the Wratislavia Cantans Festival (2-18 September 2011) and the title for the 8th Symphony of great Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki. On 10 September, Forum Wroclaw took place focusing on “Culture and Active Citizenship in the Development of Europe”. Three topics were discussed with politicians, representatives of EU institutions, film makers, business people and representatives of civil society: culture and economy in the development of Europe (Panel 1), European Capital of Culture – A model for culture? (Panel 2), and the impact of the European Union Cultural Programmes and their future shape (Panel 3). Kathrin Deventer, EFA Secretary General and Member of the “A Soul for Europe” Strategy Group, held the keynote speech in the panel on “European Capital of Culture (ECoC)” and called for “More Europe, More Culture, More Responsibilities!” The keynote speech was followed by a discussion moderated by Nele Hertling, Co-founder and Member of the “A Soul for Europe” Strategy Group, Artistic Director of Berlin 1988. Panellists included: Krzysztof Czyżewski, President of the Borderland Foundation; Jacek Purchla, Director of the International Cultural Centre Krakow, Member of the Programme Council of Cracow 2000; Doris Pack, MEP, Chair of the EP Committee on Culture and Education, Chair of the Advisory Board of the Parliamentarian Working Group of ASfE; Robert Palmer, Director of Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage at the Council of Europe, Director of Glasgow 1990 and Brussels 2000; and Rariţa Zbranca, Member of the “A Soul for Europe” Strategy Group / Director of The AltArt Foundation, Cluj. They discussed the European Capital of Culture as a European challenge which can foster a feeling of European citizenship and for which the cities and regions in Europe have to take responsibility. “When we call for more Europe, for the Soul, we call for more European Capitals of Culture: each city that carries the title has the unique chance to demonstrate what it is capable of, what it means for Europe, to exploit its potential, include big players and smaller initiatives, to attract young people.” Kathrin Deventer envisions a “programme in close collaboration with people from the city assuming responsibilities, not just the big fireworks; a programme emerging out of the local context with a European, international dimension, not a one year block-buster but a start for a long process rooted in the city; and a programme that triggers policies supporting artistic, urban development after the year including budgets for this continuation.” Festivals can be such collaborators able to involve a city’s citizens on a long-term basis, beyond the celebrations of the ECoC year. A good example is the International Festival Sarajevo Winter which, under the guidance of its Director Ibrahim Spahic, took the initiative to call for Sarajevo to be awarded the title of European Capital of Culture in 2014 in an exceptional procedure. Following these efforts, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on 2 May 2011. Wroclaw was the occasion for the European Festivals Association to express its support and to encourage politicians and other cultural organisations to back the move as well. The European Festivals Association continues to underline the role festivals have played, play and will play in the European integration process and in the fostering of a cultural Europe, a Europe of citizens.