Whereas a lot of research has already been conducted about how Europeans view the EU and what they expect from it, little is known about how the EU is viewed from the outside in general and concerning the area of culture in particular. Yet with the establishment of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the creation of institutions and networks such as EUNIC this aspect of the external perspective has become more and more important because any European external cultural relation action will only be successful if also the addressees are taken into account from the beginning.

How are European external cultural relations perceived in countries outside of Europe? What is expected of European external cultural relations in countries outside of Europe? What aspects influence the perceptions and expectations? How can EUNIC and other European institutions best use the findings of the conference in their continuous work with European external cultural relations?

University academics, public intellectuals and professionals from Europe and outside of Europe will discuss the perceptions and expectations from the outside on European external cultural relations. The conference aims to provide professionals in the area of European external cultural relations with ideas so that they can further contribute to the enhancement and improvement of European cultural relations with countries outside of Europe especially in regard to the cooperation of European institutions and networks with local partners. The conference findings will be part of the second EUNIC-Yearbook to be published in 2013.