The debate took a close look at the complex relation between cultural diversity, creativity and innovation: is cultural diversity an essential element of creativity or only a nice to have ingredient? Cultural diversity broadens our vision and makes us appreciate the different ways of seeing and doing things in other cultures. This openness allows us to select and absorb elements of other cultures, helping to produce new ways of thinking, seeing, imagining and creating. How can this link be better fostered in today's European mosaic of cultures, traditions, languages and beliefs?

European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Maroš Šefčovič, in his keynote speech pointed out that culture diversity is one of the main pre-disposition for creativity and innovation.

He said: "Closed and uniform societies have historically seen less exchange. Openness is good for creativity and innovation. However, this is not only linked to the arts, it also applies to science and technological innovation. The Commission wants to enlarge creativity so that it is not seen only as a product of the arts".

Nevertheless, one of panellist Sabine Frank, Secretary General of the Platform for Intercultural Europe, opposed to the fact that creativity is perceived predominantly with regard to art.

"I get the sense that in the EU environment, creativity is mostly linked to innovation leading to economic growth. So it's primarily about science, technology and industry," she said.

Phil Wood, author of "Intercultural City, planning the diversity advantage", focused his attention on migration and perception towards it. According to him, culture diversity in the cities might be threatened by extremists, unless politicians are willing to show the leadership on migration issues.

He pointed out that: "We are now judging migrants based on whether they are useful or not useful. We have turned migrants into economic units. There's no ideology – migration policy is defined by the market – but now we know the market is fallible."

Phil Wood considered diversity as an advantage for creativity. He gave an example of creative companies which deliberately build up working teams based on groups with different backgrounds. In addition, he strengthened his words by mentioning the evidence from the United States that foreign-born inventors are boosting new patent application.

The other panel expert Bola Olabisi, Managing Director, Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network (GWIIN), drew the main attention to media and their insufficient presentation of culture diversity.

Daniel de Torres, Commissioner for Integration and Intercultural Dialogue in Barcelona, brought up to the panel debate case of Barcelona. The main objective here is to make the city more interconnected in terms of intercultural dialog. According Daniel de Torres, the major priority lies in investment into mixed uses for neighbourhoods.

The debate was moderated by Hans Martens, Chief Executive, European Policy Centre.

The aim of the Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009 is to promote creative and innovative approaches in different sectors of human activity and contribute to better equip the European Union for the challenges ahead in a globalised world. During this Year a series of seven debates have been jointly organised by the European Commission and the EPC in Brussels. The last debate will take place on Thursday, 19 November on the topic "Cultural and other creative industries". The Debates provide a platform for reflection and exchange of ideas which can contribute to policy discussion on Creativity and Innovation.