On the occasion of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is pleased to invite you to its second literary summer, a series of lunch time meetings with European authors who will introduce us to their latest novel.

This year, the Literary Summer at the EESC is devoted to an aspect of mobility. In our society "mobility" is imbued with a positive meaning; we associate being mobile with having the possibility of actively shaping our lives in line with our own individual interests.

Immigration – an essential form of mobility – is, on the other hand, often widely seen as a threat. For this reason, the EESC has invited four leading European writers, whose backgrounds are involved with migration, to present a sample of their literary work. All of these authors of different cultural backgrounds have one point in common, namely that they have chosen to write their literature in the language of their place of residence - a wonderful demonstration of cultural integration which views diversity of experience not in terms of conflict but rather in terms of enrichment.

The literary summer comprises four meetings to be held on the terrace of the EESC's Jacques Delors building (6th floor). They will take place at lunch time, between 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m., on the following dates:

• 12 June: Soraya Nini | Ils disent que je suis une beurette, in French. Welcome: Beatrice Ouin, EESC Member
• 19 June: Feridun Zaimoglu, Liebesbrand, in German. Welcome: Anne-Marie Sigmund, EESC Member
• 26 June: Abdelkader Benali, De Grammatica van een Niemand, in Dutch. 03 July: Nii Ayikwei Parkes, The Smell of Petrol, in English. Welcome: Marie Zvolska, EESC Member

What is the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue?

This idea had initially been put forward by the European Commissioner with responsibility for culture, Ján Figel', during his hearing before the European Parliament in September 2004. With an overall budget of € 10 million, the European Year will draw on the wealth and diversity of a series of specific projects to be implemented during 2008 through programmes and other Community actions. Culture, education, youth, sport and citizenship will be the main areas concerned.