The aim of the year is to increase people’s mutual understanding and their appreciation of the many different cultures in Europe and to help them develop a sense of the values and traditions we share as part of our common European citizenship. 

The key goal of the year is to strengthen respect for cultural diversity and the coexistence of different cultural identities and beliefs. In addition, the year aims to highlight the contribution of different cultures to the member states’ heritage and way of life and to recognise that intercultural dialogue is essential for learning to live together in harmony

The opening event of the year will be a Conference in Ljubljana on 7-8 January 2008, hosted by the Slovenian EU Presidency on Intercultural Dialogue as the Fundamental Value of the EU. The EU website will give details of events throughout Europe during the year.

DCMS supported the proposal for a "Year of intercultural dialogue" from the outset as it echoes our involvement with many diverse communities, of black and minority ethnic groups, of migrant communities, of people with different social and educational backgrounds, of different religions and language groups.

In the UK, implementation of the year will be co-ordinated by EUCLID, an international information network for the arts and cultural sectors. Information on UK events to mark the year can be found on the EUCLID website

In each EU member state, one project for the year is receiving European co-funding. In the UK, Liverpool’s Intercultural City project, which lasts throughout 2008, has received EU funding.

The project will involve the direct participation of 500-1500 young people through the network of 18 British and 22 European cities that Liverpool has built up since 2004