European unification is about more than just politics and economics - it also has a huge cultural dimension. The grass-roots initiative "Soul for Europe" focuses on cultural aspects and promotes the idea of "a Europe by and for Europeans", not just of institutions.

The cultural "soul" of Europe is becoming increasingly important as a means of bringing Europeans together and enhancing relations with neighbouring states and the rest of the world. Soul for Europe http://www.bpb.de/themen/CSVKT2,0,0,A_Soul_for_Europe.html

(launched in 2004) brings together members of civil society, scientists, academics and representatives of the cultural, political and business worlds to discuss the effective and sustainable use of Europe´s cultural resources.

The second conference on this subject took place in Berlin on 17-19 November. Following the successful first conference, participants are now looking at ways of defining the concept more clearly and implementing the initiative more effectively, especially in view of the Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 http://ec.europa.eu/culture/portal/events/current/dialogue2008_en.htm

The event includes meetings with commissioners and representatives of Europe's Jewish and Islamic communities. Commission President José Manuel Barroso, who will be attending the conference, notes: "The questions of what Europe can do for culture, and what culture can do for Europe are not new. But, in this context, they have acquired a new sense of urgency."

In addition to conferences, the three-year project (until 2008) works with the European-Middle East agency Aleph to highlight Europe's contribution to the global cultural scene. Other key aims are using the cultural resources of south eastern Europe to boost regional development and using feature films to showcase Europe's cultural wealth and diversity.

(www.europa.eu)