Opening the roundtable, Picula congratulated the city of Rijeka on implementing such large and significant European project and emphasized that Rijeka's presidency of European culture overlaps with Croatia's presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of next year.
"The year 2020 will therefore be a year of great responsibility for the Republic of Croatia and it is good that we are here today to discuss the opportunity that Croatia, and Rijeka, have in the period ahead of us. In a Europe that is increasingly dividing itself and increasingly forgets about its fundamental values, it is necessary to talk about culture as a connective tissue. And cities, using cultural diplomacy, are very much invited to be reminded that we are a Union of dialogue and cooperation. They are called to defend and promote European values", Picula stressed.
Rijeka's mayor Vojko Obersnel stressed that cities can conduct active diplomacy even though it is traditionally considered the domain of national governments, and boasted 40 years of friendly relations with the Japanese city of Kawasaki.
"I am proud that Rijeka is the first Croatian city to take the title of European Capital of Culture and that we will promote diversity and a culture of dialogue through a rich program."
Silvia Costa, Italian MEP, Former Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Culture and Education and the Rapporteur for the Creative Europe Program in the coming budget period, opened the event praising the Rijeka 2020 program.
"I have already visited Rijeka and I can immediately confirm that it is again on my list of cities to come next year. Transformation is a key word of the Rijeka 2020 program and I look forward seeing in which direction you will take a city with that kind of rich history and impressive energy. There are different transformative processes taking place in Europe, and yours is culture-motivated and is commendable”
The roundtable was attended by Teresa Badia, Secretary-General of Culture Action Europe, On The Move board member Marie Fol, Rytis Zemkauskas of Kaunas 2022 - European Capital of Culture, Deputy Mayor of Varazdin Sandra Malenica and Nada Švob Đokić from the Institute for Development and International Relations.
The theme of the roundtable was city policies in culture, such as intercultural, digital and creative, and how they shape international cultural relations. It is cultural policies, content and relationships that open up new partnerships that extend to other industries. International mobility of artists and cultural exchange contribute to the spread of new ways of communication and long-term cooperation in culture. Mobility, one of the fundamental opportunities that has opened up with the European Union, contributes to the adoption of new ideas, modes of communication, skills and cultural practices that enrich communities, everyone agreed.
