The meeting will contribute to the formulation of a comprehensive European strategy for culture and has a special focus on the relationship between the EU and China.

APDS Blogger: Alex Laverty

The attractiveness of European culture constitutes a formidable component of the EU's soft power in China. The EU could increase its soft power by further building trust and reducing perceptions of European aggressiveness.

Yet if Serbia can now bring itself into the post-national European mainstream at last, this confirmation of the EU's soft power in transforming and democratizing its post-communist environs could help mitigate the EU's present self-doubt over the euro crisis.

Sports boycotts, as part of sports diplomacy or the use of sports for political or diplomatic means, have occurred on a number of occassions in the past. The most notorious examples are the Olympic Games of 1980 in Moscow and 1984 in Los Angeles, both heavily influenced by Cold War politics. But also in 2008 only 9 leaders of EU Member States attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

Yelisieiev added that Euro2012 should be a "celebration of good will" among ordinary people instead of "making political stands."..."Millions of Ukrainians put their heart into making this celebration happen ... they deserve the highest recognition, not the cold shoulder.