Why the "Dialogues"

Launched jointly by the City of Strasbourg and the Council of Europe in 2009, the "Strasbourg dialogues" aim at involving Strasbourg citizens in discussions on matters of critical importance to our future as Europeans. Held on a regular basis, the "Dialogues" help both to strengthen the "citizens' Europe" and to develop further the Europe of Strasbourg.

2 October 2009, Mikhail Gorbachev 20 years later...

On 6 July 1989, Mikhail Gorbachev delivered a speech at the Council of Europe as the President of the Soviet Union. In his well-known speech, he developped his vision for Europe by introducing the idea of a ''Common European Home''. Shortly after, a chain of historical events dramatically changed the European landscape imposed by the ''Cold War''. Europe, divided for 50 years found itself unified. The Central and Western European countries launched strong reforms to instill the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Council of Europe and the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Mikhail Gorbachev spoke about social challenges and the future of our ''Common European Home'' at the event ''Strasbourg dialogues'', on Friday 2 October at the Palais des Congrès in Strasbourg.