Brussels, 15/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - In Cannes on 27 January 2008 on the opening day of the MIDEM international music fair, Ján Fige¾, the Commissioner for education, training, culture and youth, will present (for the fifth consecutive year) the “European Border Breakers Awards” (EBBA) to the 10 European musical groups and individual artists in recognition of their success abroad. The Commissioner declared, "The EBBA Awards underline the importance of creativity and an open attitude towards cultural diversity in a globalizing world. By honouring the award-winning groups and artists alongside their record companies and publishers, the EBBA Awards also clearly show the inter-linked nature of the process of musical creation and how this is a necessary element for cross border success". These awards are the result of a European initiative carried out in close collaboration with the European music industry and are based on statistics provided by the Billboard Information Group, according to the following criteria: original debut album of artists or groups from an EU Member State; sales in EU Member states outside the country of production; sales during the last year (between 1 September 2006 and 31 August 2007) and experience in touring outside the country of origin. The European Commission will have a stand at MIDEM to promote European music and its diversity. This year, 10 independent national organisations and companies from the EU Member States, which do not have a national stand at MIDEM and have not participated at MIDEM before, will be offered a free registration at the MIDEM trade fair and a place at the Commission's stand. An informal meeting between the EU's Ministers of Culture and representatives of the European music industry will take place in the margins of the awards ceremony, to discuss the challenges facing the European music industry. (I.L.)