On 22 November 2011 at 3pm, the European Parliament’s CULT Committee will hold a public hearing on Culture and the EU's external actions. As a follow-up on the EP resolution on the Cultural dimensions of the EU's external actions, adopted in May 2011, the Committee has invited several experts to discuss the role of culture in the EU's foreign relations, and to look forward to possible developments in the future. Preceding the public hearing, a lunch debate takes place on the “Cultural dimensions of the EU's external actions”. Distinguished guest speaker will be Ms Natalia Kaliada, founding Director of the Belarus Free Theatre. Founded in 2005, this theater company is speaking out against pressure and censorship in Belarus. The lunch debate will be an opportunity to discuss how to develop more efficient EU policies to embed culture in the EU´s external actions. For background information see the report on the cultural dimensions of the EU’s external actions (31 March 2011) by rapporteur Marietje Schaake. Afterwards, between 15.00 and 17.30, a public hearing on the role of culture in the EU's foreign affairs will take place, organised by the EP's Committee on Culture and Education. At this event there will be panel debates with Dr Gottfried Wagner, Dr Kathinka Dittrich van Weringh, Mr Paul Dujardin and Dr Teija Tilikainen. Further information can be found in the programme. The CULT meeting on 22 November will also include a presentation of the European Festivals Association aiming to raise awareness of the role of festivals in society among representatives of the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council. Last but not least, the Institute for Media Economics (IEM) of Fondazione Rosselli will be presenting the study “Public investment in culture and communications”. The public hearing from 15.00 until 17.30 will be web streamed on the website of the European Parliament.