The purpose of the meeting is to promote cooperation among festivals in European Union members and EU candidates and hopefuls in accordance with the EFA's project called "Open The Door to Arts and Culture - Open the Door to Europe". This EFA flagship project was initiated at the occasion of the European Year For Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.
One of reasons for holding today's meeting in Zagreb is to give a festive reception at the honour of the election of Ivo Josipovic as President of Croatia. Josipovic used to be a director of the Music Biennale Zagreb (EFA member) and a General Secretary of the HDS,
Participants in today's event also signed a document on emphasising a role of culture in the European identity.