18 DE JULHO DE 2015

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First, we should acknowledge the challenges ahead of us. The main political one is to ensure real

commitment to democracy and human rights. This commitment should reach all areas of policy

making and permeate the way that values are transmitted from one generation to the next. We must

state clearly that we need respect for difference. Views that deny the human dignity of others are

unacceptable in a democratic society.

Secondly, we must stress that education and cultural policies must be enhanced to develop a culture

of democracy that sustains the “living together” society, while bearing in mind the close

interconnections with youth and media policies. We should focus more on how people communicate

and aim to improve people’s acceptance of difference and respectful attitudes towards otherness.

Thirdly, we should go beyond the general consensus over the need for intercultural dialogue and

education for democratic citizenship. We have to discuss the specific competencies that will give

people a foundation on which to build their relations with other members of society, from next-door

neighbour to anyone else in Europe and beyond.

Last but not least, we must pay greater attention to the school environment. We have to include

references to attitudes.

This report supports the Council of Europe’s intergovernmental work to develop soft power policies

and information tools to assist member states in shaping the new intercultural processes,

mechanisms and relationships that are required to address the compelling diversity challenge in

Europe and neighbouring regions. Accordingly, it recommends that the Committee of Ministers

should “encourage integrated activities between different sectors of the Council of Europe to develop

innovative approaches to diversity management and, in this framework, hold with different

stakeholders in the member States ‘thematic’ biennial platforms to discuss and advance policy

orientations and exchange best practices”.

In particular, we value the implementation of the Council of Europe Charter on Education for

Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights, the activities of the Intercultural Cities Network and the

ongoing Media in Europe for Diversity Inclusiveness programme, or MEDIANE.

The report sets out a vision for contemporary society and could, therefore, be perceived by some as

far removed from political reality. However, I insist that without this vision, we will not be able to

manage the accelerating demographic change in Europe in a democratic manner. We must recognise

the positive role that different cultures can play in shaping our individual identities and our common