Council Conclusions of 22 May 2008 on Intercultural Competences

• intercultural dialogue is a key tool in addressing some of the most important challenges Europe is facing at present and that it constitutes one of the three strategic objectives of the European Agenda for Culture, to be implemented through triennial work plans;
• in order to foster open and inclusive societies established on core European values and to promote active citizenship, European citizens need to be equipped with intercultural competences, which constitute a key factor for strengthening intercultural dialogue;
• the knowledge, skills and attitudes of particular relevance to intercultural competences are those relating to the following key competences: communication in foreign languages, social and civic competences, and cultural awareness and expression.

Reference: Official Journal C 141, 7.6.2008, p. 14