International scientific conference International Cultural Relations of the European Union – Europe, the World, Croatia, brought together scientists and experts from across Europe to raise awareness about the importance of culture and intercultural dialogue and to launch a discussion about the opportunities and challenges of internationalcultural cooperation.
The conference was held in Rijeka, European Capital of Culture 2020 at the Faculty of Civil Engineering jointly organized by Centre for Democracy and Law Miko Tripalo, University of Rijeka and Rijeka 2020, in cooperation with Culturelink/IRMO and Observatoire des politiques culturelles, France. From 30 to 31 May, the participants discussed about challenges and modalities of international cultural cooperation and connection of seemingly incompatibile regions. The authors of conference concept are Biserka Cvjetičanin, Centre for Democracy and Law Miko Tripalo and Institute for Development and International Relations and Vjeran Katunarić, Centre for Democracy and Law Miko Tripalo and University of Zadar.
The conference was opened by the director of Rijeka 2020 Emina Višnić and the welcoming words were given by Tvrtko Jakovina, President of the Management Board of Centre for Democracy and Law Miko Tripalo, Marko Filipović, Deputy Mayor of City of Rijeka and Alen Ružić, Vice Rector for Science and Arts, University of Rijeka.
During the first day of the conference there were three sessions held, The Role of Cultural Policies in Fostering International Cultural Cooperation, Culture-Powered City Diplomacy and Cultural Networks – The Expression of Cultural Change in International Relations, and one roundtable Culture-Powered City Diplomacy: The Role of Large-Scale Events.
During the second day there were two sessions, The Future of Enhanced International Cultural Cooperation Between Europe and Africa and Croatia in International Cultural Cooperation, with three roundtables, The Future of Enhanced International Cultural Cooperation Between Europe and Africa, Sustainable Models of Cultural Collaboration in Southeastern Europe and Cultural Diplomacy: Strengthening External Relations in a Globalised World.
The speakers at the conference were: Jean-Pierre Deru, Association Marcel Hicter for Cultural Democracy (Belgium); Jean-Pierre Saez, Observatory of Cultural Policies (France); Joost Smiers, Utrecht School of the Arts (Netherlands); Wieger Bakker, Utrecht University, School of Governance (Netherlands); Mercedes Giovinazzo, InterArts (Spain); Anne-Marie Autissier, Paris III-University, CRESPA (France); Cristina Farinha, University of Porto (Portugal). From Centre Miko Triplao members there were: Vjeran Katunarić, Centre for Democracy and Law Miko Tripalo and University of Zadar and Goran Sunajko, Centre for Democracy and Law Miko Tripalo and University of Zagreb.
In addition to scientists and experts from the field of culture and representatives of the City of Rijeka and City of Dubrovnik, the conference was attended by H.E. Hrvoje Marušić, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Kingdom of Norway; H.E. Philippe Meunier, Ambassador of the French Republic to the Republic of Croatia; H.E. Olive Hempenstall, Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland to the Republic of Croatia; Christian Grotnes Halvorsen, Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway to the Republic of Croatia and H.E. Hendrik Jan Voskamp, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Republic of Croatia.
