28 September 2011

The EU is now one of the main destinations of migration, home to more and more people of different nationalities, religions and cultures. In this context, cultural, ethnic and religious diversity brings new social and political challenges. For example, increased interaction can lead to friction between cultures and give rise to identity-linked tensions. This, in turn, can trigger fear and rejection.

Despite the presence of specific legislation, EU citizens still report experiencing or witnessing discrimination. … Ultimately, the challenge facing EU society is to find ways of reconciling and protecting its multiple cultural identities while promoting universally shared values. A Briefing issued by the Library of the European Parliament addresses issues of Intercultural Dialogue (ICD) as “one political instrument amongst others” that can help in providing “solutions to the complex problems” of today’s European society.