L 412[44 Official Journal of the European Union 30.12.2006 DECISION No 1983/2006/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 18 December 2006 concerning the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (2008) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EURO- PEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, and in particular the first indent of Article 151(5) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee ('), Having regard to the Opinion of the Committee of the Regions (3), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), Whereas: (1) The Treaty establishing the European Community gives it the task of creating an ever closer union between the peoples of Europe and of contributing to the flowering of the cultures of Member States, while respecting their national and regional diversity and also highlighting their common cultural heritage. (2)  The combined effect of the successive enlargements of the European Union (EU), the increased mobility resulting from the single market, old and new migratory flows, more significant exchanges with the rest of the world through trade, education, leisure and globalisation in general, is increasing interactions between European citi- zens, and all those living in the EU, and the various cultures, languages, ethnic groups and religions in Europe and beyond. (3)  European citizens, and all those living in the EU tempora- rily or permanently, should therefore have the opportu- nity to take part in intercultural dialogue and fulfil their () 0JC185,8.8.2006, p. 42. () 0] C206,29.8.2006, p. 44. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 1 June 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal), Common Position of the Council of 14 November 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Posi- tion of the European Parliament of 12 December 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal). potential in a diverse, pluralist, solidarity-based and dynamic society, not only in Europe but also in the world. At the heart of the European project, it is important to provide the means for intercultural dialogue and dialogue between citizens to strengthen respect for cultural diver- sity and deal with the complex reality in our societies and the coexistence of different cultural identities and beliefs. Furthermore, it is important to highlight the contribution of different cultures to the Member States’ heritage and way of life and to recognise that culture and intercultural dialogue are essential for learning to live together in harmony. Intercultural dialogue thus contributes towards achieving a number of the EU’s strategic priorities, in particular by: — respecting and promoting cultural diversity in Europe, improving coexistence and encouraging active Euro- pean citizenship open to the world and based on the common values in the EU, — contributing to ensuring equal opportunities and non-discrimination within the EU by including the renewed Lisbon strategy, for which the knowledge- based economy requires people capable of adapting to changes and benefiting from all possible sources of innovation in order to increase prosperity, — emphasising the cultural and educational dimension of the renewed Lisbon strategy and, in so doing, stimulating the cultural and creative economy in the EU, which generates growth and creates jobs, — supporting the EU’s commitment to solidarity, social justice, the development of a social market economy, cooperation and greater cohesion in the respect of its common values,