Brussels, 04/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 31 October 2008, the European Commission met representatives of the European music industry at the international world music exhibition, WOMEX, held in Seville, Spain on 29 October-2 November, in order to examine ways of boosting the music industry in developing countries. Three major themes were addressed - investment in culture to the end of development; creativity and innovation; and intercultural dialogue. At the meeting, the participants considered how public-private partnerships can assist development cooperation and reinforce viable, sustainable structures in culture industries at local level. The meeting met the objectives of the UNESCO's 2005 convention on protection and promotion of diversity in cultural expression, which invites signatories to consider how culture can be better integrated in developing countries. The Commission notes its plan to set up an EU-ACP fund (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) to make the most of the dissemination of cultural goods and services from ACP states in the ACP countries themselves, and also within the European Union under its “European Agenda for Culture in an Age of Globalisation”. This programme is now being examined by ACP states and EU member states. (I.L./transl.fl)