For us, building bridges is more than a metaphor—it’s our mission. With dedication and heart, we strive to spark meaningful conversations and collective reflections on faith, unity, and diversity across Europe. 

 

As divisions, anger, and hostility seep into our communities, we are called to promote kindness, accountability, and to embody the change we wish to see. At the Europe Region Unit, we aspire to be a bit heretical—to unleash that bold imagination which envisions new paths and innovative solutions. 

 

Soon, this newsletter will be complemented by a more interactive version on LinkedIn—perfect for those who prefer a more dynamic and engaging space. Whether you're reflecting with us here, joining the conversation on social media, or would like us to share your story, we invite you to be part of this journey.

 

Let's build meaningful connections together. 

 

 

The Europe Region Team 

 

 

 

 

 

Allow us a few minutes to introduce the people behind this effort, the team working at the Europe Region Unit:  

 

 

The EPDF has come a long way since its inception in Athens in 2019. What began as a forum to address challenges to the inclusion of refugees and migrants, the EPDF has continually been adapting to Europe’s shifting landscape and its many intersecting crises. Today, it has grown into a broader, more dynamic platform to discuss how interreligious and intercultural dialogue can be harnessed more effectively to enhance social cohesion and promote unity of intents across faiths, cultures, and secular spaces. 

 

The EPDF now convenes every two years, gathering key stakeholders—religious leaders, policymakers, experts, and grassroots practitioners—from across the 46 countries of the Council of Europe. This distinct platform isn’t just about gathering and connecting; it inspires and drives actionable steps. After each main forum, KAICIID supports local initiatives that take the forum's insights into real-world practice, ensuring that the policies discussed in theory are applied in communities. 

By 2023, when the Forum reached Rotterdam, this "policy-action loop" became central to the EPDF’s mission. In supporting this approach, the EPDF creates a circular process where grassroot actions inform high-level discussions, and those discussions, in turn, shape future initiatives. This cycle allows for constant learning and adaptation, blending theory and practice to build inclusive communities and reduce social divisions. 

The next EPDF event, marking its 6th edition, is already in the works for November 2025. Join us as we continue this journey, blending interreligious dialogue, action, and policy to transform Europe’s social fabric.  

 

Take a look at some of the EPDF policy briefs, inspiring the actions at local level:

EPDF Policy Brief no. 2: Words that Heal: The Role of Young People in Addressing Hate Speech

EPDF Policy Brief no. 3: Cities fostering belonging: Bolstering the Participation of Young Refugees and Migrants
EPDF Policy Brief no. 4: Leadership in Action: How Religious Leaders and Local Authorities Can Foster Social Cohesion by Empowering Youth 

 

Already in 2016, the establishment of the Muslim-Jewish Leadership Council (MJLC) – a Europe-wide coalition between 46 Imams and Rabbis – represented a forward-looking tool to foster solidarity and provide a tangible sign of trust-building and dialogue. Today, the MJLC Ambassadors’ Programme, involving young Jewish and Muslim community leaders, moves another step forward towards cohesive communities in Europe, while resisting divisions and polarisations. By offering a platform for their voices and initiatives, the KAICIID Europe Region Unit and MJLC collaborate to help equip the young leaders with the skills and opportunities needed to work together and drive meaningful change within their communities. Moreover, through a cross-generational collaboration with experienced religious leaders who mentor the young Ambassadors, the Programme fosters mutually enriching relationships. 

 

Nurturing this young generation of interfaith leaders is pivotal to bridge the gap in shared values and common principles that is eroding social cohesion in Europe. With a vast majority of the global population adhering to a faith or spiritual tradition, religion is a key factor that shapes the societal transformations of today, with profound implications on how people think, act or do not act. Few other forces are so deeply rooted in the collective human consciousness. 

After a pilot phase in 2023, involving young leaders in Frankfurt (D), London (UK) and Warsaw (PL), the current MJLC Ambassadors are based in Milan (IT), Sarajevo (BiH) and Vienna (AT) and have completed impressive dialogue projects in their localities, leading walking tours opening up the Muslim and Jewish history of Vienna and conducting youth-led visits to five cities across Bosnia & Herzegovina to examine shared history. Both cohorts were invited to share their experiences in different events, such as the Fundamental Rights Forum, organised by the Fundamental Rights Agency of the European Union; in Sarajevo, for the public launch of the second iteration of the Programme; and at the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference by the OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. We look forward to the third cohort in Helsinki, Lisbon and Strasbourg/Mets.  

 

Watch our video from Ohrid (North Macedonia), the city of 365 churches, where we held a training of young people in the framework of the Catalysts for Cohesion initiative, delivering youth led change across Europe. 
  

The Corner of YOUR Stories
 

 

 

 

 

We appreciate your support and are looking forward to hearing from you. 
 

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