Brussels, 23/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The high representatives for foreign affairs and culture of the European Union are meeting on 22-24 June in Pécs (Hungary), on the initiative of the Hungarian Presidency to examine the mediating and reconciliatory role played by culture in international relations. This is the first ever meeting of this kind at a European level. By organising this informal meeting, the Hungarian Presidency is seeking to develop a network of national contact points on cultural diplomacy in the European Union and would like meetings of this kind to be organised regularly in the future. According to the Presidency, culture plays an increasing role in the diplomatic activity of member states. Also included in the discussions agenda are the priorities for the EU's cultural external relations on the basis of the Council of Ministers cultural agenda for 2011-2014: neighbourhood policy, the Western Balkans, the role of culture in international development cooperation, mapping good existing practices and possible opportunities for EU foreign relations, as well as the objectives and methods to follow when implementing the Cultural Agenda. At the end of the meeting, the conference results and proposals will be summarised in the conclusions drafted by the Hungarian Presidency, in an effort to facilitate the work of the following rotating Presidencies. (I.L./transl.fl)