“White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue”

Objectives
Contents
The White Paper process
What is a “White Paper”

Objectives 

In order to formulate a coherent and long-term policy for the promotion of intercultural dialogue within Europe and between Europe and its neighbouring regions, the Council of Europe is preparing a “White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue”.
The White Paper is addressed to policy makers and practitioners at national, regional and local levels, to whom it will provide guidelines and analytical and methodological tools for the promotion of intercultural dialogue.

Contents 

The White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue of the Council of Europe will formulate the political orientations of the Organisation in this area. It will also serve as a reference document for action at national, regional and local levels.

More information on examples of good practice

The White Paper process 

The White Paper will be the end result of an open consultation process, involving all stakeholders of intercultural dialogue.

More information on the consultation process

What is a “White Paper” 

Generally speaking, “white papers” are policy documents containing background information and proposals for action in a specific political area.
The name and concept of White Papers originates in parliamentary practice, particularly in England in the first half of the 20th century, where this type of document was bound in white instead of the customary blue paper cover.
The Council of Europe has published very few White Papers in the past. In 2000, the Organisation published the “White Paper on the protection of the human rights and dignity of people suffering from mental disorder, especially those placed as involuntary patients in a psychiatric establishment”; and in 2003, a “White Paper on the principles concerning the legal consequences of parentage”.