Brussels, 11/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Tuesday 11 November, the European Commission held a seminar on intercultural dialogue. Religious beliefs, philosophies and convictions are an integral part of cultural diversity which, through dialogue, can enrich our societies and contribute to individual fulfilment. In our increasingly diverse cultural environments, however, the broad spectrum of faiths, beliefs and convictions can lead to misconceptions and fears. In the worst cases, people suffer the consequences of others' prejudice in the form of discrimination due to their conviction or religious belief. Around 100 people - project coordinators, policy makers, experts in the fields of education and the media, and representatives of religious and secular groups - debated the issue, as part of the 2008 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, and as a follow-up to the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All. Three working sessions were organised. The first focused on European educational systems and how well equipped they are to teach an ethnically diverse population. The second concentrated on the role of the media and the responsibility they bear for the news they broadcast to the public. Lastly, the third session tried to determine the extent to which dialogue between believers and non-believers can support solidarity and the search for common values, against a background of the financial crisis sometimes portrayed as a “crisis of values”. (I.L./transl.rt)