Symposium Overview

The EU is privileged to serve as one of the most successful example of multilateral cooperation between Nation-States and multilateral cultural diplomacy, and therefore has a unique opportunity to create, implement and provide models for cultural diplomacy based strategies that strengthen cross-cultural relationships. Serving as an excellent example for successful economic and political cooperation, the EU can use its economic and political success as a resource to improve international relations with other countries and regions around the world. Indeed, cultural diplomacy has played a pivotal role in EU Foreign Policy, demonstrated by examples such as the founding of the ERASMUS academic exchange program and the founding of the Leonardo da Vinci program for vocational education and training. Through its comprehensive and multi-lateral practice of cultural exchange and dialogue the EU has proven itself to be one of the most pioneering region of cultural diplomacy in the world.

The International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy in the EU will present the importance of building cultural bridges for the benefits of EU economy, and well-being of EU citizens, while illustrating the cost-effective advantages of such programs compared to other policy alternatives. The Symposium will bring together EU legislators, representatives of the private sector and civil society as well as representatives from the international community to initiate joint-programs that will increase the volume of EU engagement in cultural diplomacy both within the EU and outside it. The Symposium will campaign for new programs, increased budgets and greater governmental attention of the unique opportunities practicing cultural diplomacy can bring. The Symposium will also publish a report based on the speeches and suggestions from all speakers and participants, which will be delivered to the EU Parliament, EU policy and decision-makers as well as to the international community.

Symposium Locations

Based in Brussels, the conference will be hosted at the EU Parliament and at a number of important political, historic, and cultural locations across the city.

Symposium Speakers & Delegates »

Speakers and delegates during the symposium will include leading politicians, chief diplomats, leading governmental officials, senior academics, renowned authors, journalists, and celebrated artists. These speakers will include a large number of individuals from the ICD Advisory Board. To learn more about the ICD Advisory Board, please click here.

Speakers and Delegates for the Conference include

MEP Leonidas Donskis Member of the European Parliament	MEP George Sabin Cutas Member of the European Parliament	Senator Dominique Tilmans Member of the Belgian Senate
H. E. Amb. Fuad Isgandarov Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Belgium, Luxembourg, & the EU	H. E. Amb. Mxolisi Sizo Nkosi Ambassador of South Africa to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU	H. E. Amb. Chang-Beom Kim Ambassador of South Korea to Belgium

Symposium Participants »

Participation in the conference is open to governmental & diplomatic officials, academics, artists, journalists, civil society practitioners, private sector representatives, young professionals and students as well as other interested individuals from across the world.

If you would like to reserve a position and participate in the conference, please click on the link below and fill out the online application form:

Sustainable Network »

During the program participants will have a number of opportunities to network with one another, with the speakers, and with ICD Advisory Board Members and partners. Conference participants will become part of the ICD Alumni, a growing international network of people of diverse interests and backgrounds from around the world who share a commitment to intercultural exchange. Members of the ICD Alumni Group will benefit from the following opportunities: Alumni online forum, Advisory Board Networking, ICD support for individual Leadership Initiatives, free access to all ICD research, videos and photos as well as other event documentation. Participants will be able to remain in touch with each other through the ICD Networks. (more »)

Participant Papers »

The Institute for Cultural Diplomacy encourages academic research and analysis of issues related to the goals of the summit, and would therefore like to welcome participants to submit a paper they would like to be considered for delivery at the summit. Following the summit, select papers will be chosen to be included in the proposal document that will be issued and sent to all governments and leaders of the international community following the summit.

Certificate of Attendance

All Symposium participants will be awarded an official Certificate of Attendance upon completion of the program, which will provide details of the speakers who took part in the event, and list the topics which were discussed. Each certificate will be signed by members of the ICD Advisory Board.