European Festival Summit poster showing a crowd at a concert with a stage, lights, and a performer in the background.

European Festival Summit

18-20 November 2024, Tollhaus, Karlsruhe, Germany

YOUROPE, the most important organization representing popular music festivals in Europe, is inviting all festival organizers, interested stakeholders and event professionals to participate in the European Festival Summit. The Summit is your exclusive opportunity to meet like-minded people from all over Europe in a relaxed atmosphere and to take a look to the future together.

The brightest minds in the festival industry will share their knowledge, internationally renowned scientists will provide insights into relevant research, and experts from various fields will support our participants with their specialist expertise. Together with them and you, we want to find out what the resilience, responsibility and relevance of popular music festivals looks like today and tomorrow.

We are really looking forward to two amazing days that are all about popular music festivals and therefore about you. This is your chance to meet your peers and even more people who will help you progress. Be there when the festival family meets at the first European Festival Summit.

The summit will take place in Karlsruhe – in the very heart of Europe. We will meet in the creative quarter of the city in the southwest of Germany, which is one of the main transport interfaces of European mobility. Excellent connections with various means of transport are available.

The European Festival Summit consists of
Mon, 18 November, 19h: Warm-up and Get-Together
Tue, 19 November, full day: Summit Day 1 & Evening Event
Wed, 20 November, until approx. 16.30h: Summit Day 2

Registration

European Festival Summit registration fee:


Please note that YOUROPE is a non-profit organization. Thus, according to Section 19, Paragraph 1 of the German VAT Act, no VAT is charged on the registration fee.

A crowd of people at an outdoor event, many of them smiling and raising their hands, with a Ferris wheel visible in the background at sunset.

Photo: YOUROPE member Pohoda Festival by Martina Mlcuchova

Panels, presentations, interactive sessions and keynote interviews complement each other to create a valuable program in which everyone should find something interesting. Excursions, networking and leisure time events complete two days that exclusively revolve around festivals and their organizers – but without forgetting to think outside the box.

16:30 Excursion to Megaforce (stage builder)
Megaforce headquarters near Karlsruhe

The international stage building company Megaforce invites participants of the EFS to an excursion through their headquarters near Karlsruhe. Pick up will be at the EFS venue Alter Schlachthof at 16.30, with the return planned for 18:30-19:00.

If you want to participate, please register here: https://yourope.org/efs-interactive-program-form/

19:00 Warm up & Get together
Royal Rock’n’Roll BBQ @ Alte Hackerei

In the immediate vicinity of our summit location in the city‘s creative quarter on the former site of the abattoir, we find one of the rock‘n‘roll jewels in southwest Germany. This is where the speakers, team and participants meet to warm up on the summit‘s eve for a casual get-together. Over street food and tasty treats from the grill and the in-house food truck, we want to get to know each other and lay the foundation for two extraordinary days. Where riffs usually fly around and people go for a nice crowdsurf, today your stories and expectations are the focus. We keep it personal and informal tonight at this old butcher‘s canteen, which opens exclusively just for you.

09:00 The Summit Opening

Holger Jan Schmidt | YOUROPE (DE), host
Linnéa Svensson | GO Group (NO) , host
Martin Wacker | Karlsruhe Marketing & Event GmbH / DAS FEST (DE)

09:30 A wild 60 Minutes on Future

Step into the future with Max, Europe’s leading futurologist! Discover how our transition from industrialization to digitality is reshaping daily life. Explore the role of technology, new societal structures, and why the future isn’t just about tech toys, but about possibilities we create. 

How do festivals fit into this new era? Can they foster regional connections and cultural growth? Let’s discuss meta-trends, values, and how we can make festivals a cornerstone for a sustainable future. 

Bring your ideas, questions, and suggestions as we navigate the digital age together.

Max Thinius | Futurneo (DE)
Chris Marta Pallarès | Primavera Sound (ES)
Christof Huber | Gadget Entertainment & YOUROPE (CH)

11:00 What your visitors want

Pan-European Fan Survey Results

We will present the groundbreaking findings of the first pan-European festival fan survey conducted in 2024 by YOUROPE, in collaboration with Höme and their festival platform, infield. Over 7,000 fans from across Europe participated, providing valuable insights into festival-goers’ needs and expectations. Aimed at strengthening Europe’s festival landscape, the survey offers data that can guide political and economic decision-making, including funding decisions. Founding directors of Höme, Isabel Roudsarabi and Johannes Jacobi, will reveal these key insights and what they mean for the future of European festivals.

Isabel Roudsarabi & Johannes Jacobi | Höme (DE

11:00 Are popular music festivals the new cultural heritage?

IIn this session, Prof. Paula Guerra (University of Porto) will explore whether festivals, particularly those in popular music, are evolving into a form of cultural heritage. With our sector having existed for well over 50 years now and festivals’ roots in ancient traditions, this discussion will examine the significance of festivals as part of cultural identity, the benefits of being recognized as heritage (e.g., European funding, public acclaim), and the challenges involved. Prof. Guerra will draw on her own application process for Paredes de Coura Festival (PT), highlighting the complexities of defining cultural heritage and overcoming obstacles to achieving such a status.

Prof. Paula Guerra | University of Porto (PT)

11:00 Scenario-Based Safety Exercise

Join this interactive discussion-based table top – presented by YES Group

We invite participants to join this interactive session: a discussion-based tabletop exercise where personnel with roles and responsibilities in an event safety plan come together to validate the plan’s content. During the session, they will discuss their roles and responses to a specific emergency situation. A facilitator will lead the discussion by presenting a scenario and asking questions based on that scenario.

Andreas Mestka | OpenAir St.Gallen & YES Group (CH), host

If you want to participate, please register here: https://yourope.org/efs-interactive-program-form/

12:00 AI’s Role in Shaping the Future of Festivals

“Artificial Intelligence rules the world.” “ChatGPT will solve all problems.” In this talk, we dare to ask: is that really so? We will give you an insight into different AI methods and their applications. In addition, we will put AI into the perspective of the event business sector by giving practical examples. At the end of the talk, you will have a better understanding of what AI is (…and what not), you will get a glimpse at what lies on the road ahead of AI technology and, last but not least, you might even have some more ideas as to how AI is relevant to your own business.

Daniel Vollmer | AppSphere AG (DE)
Prof. Dr. York Sure-Vetter | KIT – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (DE)

12:00 Lowlands, Legend, Legacy

Keynote Interview with Eric van Eerdenburg

This session will be a deep dive into the visionary work of Eric van Eerdenburg, director of the Netherlands’ iconic Lowlands Festival, in a keynote interview hosted by Claire O’Neill (AGF). Eric will reflect on Lowlands’ journey from a headliner-focused event to a more eclectic, inclusive combination of music, arts and science, underscoring festivals’ social and political responsibilities. With his recent announcement to step down after the 2025 edition, Eric will also discuss the importance of handing over leadership between generations, setting the stage for a new era that balances tradition and festival legacy with fresh perspectives.

Eric van Eerdenburg | Mojo Concerts / Lowlands Festival (NL)
Claire O’Neill | A Greener Future (UK), mod

14:15 Staying Relevant

How Festivals Can Survive in the Era of Gen Z, TikTok, and No-Phone Policies

Urs and Lydia are two of the youngest creative minds in Germany, ready to dive into the world of Gen Z with you. This is the audience your festival needs, and they’re rewriting the rules. Urs and Lydia will break down how Gen Z’s habits and expectations – from authenticity to digital integration – are flipping festivals upside down. Expect a deep dive into innovative strategies, combining social media engagement, cultural relevance, and immersive experiences. Both speakers work closely with this dynamic generation and know what makes them tick. Learn how to stay true to your festival’s DNA while realizing that the entire industry needs to evolve to stay relevant for young audiences.

Lydia Braune | Styleheads (DE)
Urs Meier | Garden (DE

14:15 Radical Love & Green impact

The Boom Festival Case Study – Europe’s Pioneer in Festival Sustainability – presented by GO Group

This exclusive look at the Boom Festival case study highlights their innovative sustainability initiatives, presented by co-director Mariana Macedo. Known for its unique blend of art and music, Boom Festival has been globally praised and awarded multiple times for the new standards it sets in environmental responsibility. With pioneering projects in all areas of sustainability management, Boom actively commits to ecological stewardship. This presentation reveals how radical love for nature translates into concrete actions, establishing the festival as a model for sustainable impact. Boom won the Green Operations Award at the European Festival Awards 2023.

Mariana Macedo | Boom Festival / Good Mood (PT)

14:15 Music Ambassadors in Ukraine

Screening of Music Saves Ukraine‘s Documentary + Q&A

This documentary offers an intimate look into a unique project of Music Saves Ukraine where international music industry leaders – including festival organizers, artists, and cultural figures – toured Ukraine to witness the realities of wartime first-hand. The documentary follows 12 participants from 11 countries, including six members of YOUROPE, as they visit Kyiv, Borodyanka, Irpin, and Chernihiv. The guests observed the resilience of Ukrainians, heard stories from occupation survivors, and witnessed the powerful role of culture and aid in rebuilding communities. The film captures their personal transformations, providing a rare, human perspective on Ukraine’s current struggles. At the screening, Music Ambassador Ville Koivisto from Provinssi Festival (FI) will give a first-hand report on his participation, sharing emotional insights from the journey.

Mariana Mokrynska | UAME & Music saves Ukraine (UA)
Vlad Yaremchuk | Atlas Festivals & Music Saves Ukraine (UA)
Ville Koivisto | Provinssi Festival (FI)

15:45 Quo Vadis, Festivals?

Europe’s leading festival promoters on the future of the sector

Times seem uncertain, and the world and its news are spinning faster and faster. We want to understand where our festivals fit into this rapidly changing world. This year, we witnessed a record number of festival cancellations, both well-established events and newly announced ones. Soaring prices, changing consumer behaviour among Generation Z, market segmentation, and social shifts present significant challenges for future survival. What will happen, and what must happen? How are these topics interconnected, and how are they being assessed and addressed by the leading players in our industry? Let’s ask them.

Cindy Castillo | Mad Cool Festival (ES)
Arnaud Meersseman | AEG presents France (FR)
Eugenie “EJ” Encalarde | New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (US)
Mikolaj Ziolkowski | Open’er Festival (PL)
Christof Huber | Gadget Entertainment / YOUROPE (CH)
James Drury | IQ Magazine (UK), host

15:45 PTV Excursion

PTV Group is a major provider of traffic and transportation planning software covering the whole scale from national strategic master plans to detailed simulation of crowds of pedestrians in stations, buildings, or at festivals. Recently, PTV has started experimenting with the new Apple Vision Pro to evaluate the potential impact on planning and operations in the field. For this, PTV has developed a technology demo, which gives an immersive experience of an Intelligent Transportation System use case – modelling a central intersection in Karlsruhe – where the microscopic traffic simulation PTV Vissim is combined with predictive traffic management of PTV Flows. While the demo shows a potential traffic management centre of the future, the idea can easily be transferred to, for example, a festival management centre. The demo will be hands-on. During waiting times, a parallel programme will be offered.

Dr. Tobias Kretz | PTV (DE)

If you want to participate, please register here: https://yourope.org/efs-interactive-program-form/

17:00 The Summit’s day 1 summary

Let’s take a look back at the day that lies behind us. Our hosts will collect and share impressions, ideas and inspiration, and try to put together a round-up with you before moving on to the more relaxed part of the summit.

Holger Jan Schmidt | YOUROPE (DE), host
Linnéa Svensson | GO Group (NO) , host

09:30 The Emotional Power of Live Music

Music can express many emotions, and humans enjoy listening to music because it makes us feel many emotions. Live music can intensify these emotional experiences, given the dynamic nature of music concerts and the interaction between musicians and the audience. That is basically the foundation our festivals are built on. Prof. Dr. Sascha Frühholz will talk about the evolutionary origin of the emotional power of live music and how live music stimulates emotional processing in listeners’ brains from a neuroscientific perspective.

Prof. Dr. Sascha Frühholz | Universität Zürich (CH)

09:30 Digital Circular Construction

Transfer potential between the construction and event sector

The construction sector is responsible for large parts of humankind’s resource and energy consumption. The Professorship Digital Design and Fabrication (DDF) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) explores digital construction technologies to enable a circularity-driven material culture in architecture and a transition from construction-specific urban mining concepts towards a holistic understanding of the construction sector as an integral part of an industrial closed-loop ecology. This approach has the potential of being applied to the temporary use of resources in the festival and event industry.

Prof. Moritz Dörstelmann | KIT – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (DE)

09:30 The (almost) Legendary 4D Future Mapping Workshop

Creating the Festivals of the Future, an Interactive Group Exercise – presented by GO Group

Get your head, hands and hearts ready, but let us explain first: This workshop is based on the work of system scientists Otto Scharmer and Peter Senge at MIT – Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Their Theory U process at the Presencing Institute aims at helping systems, societies and people to create a better future. The 3D Mapping is a tool we use to bring multiple dimensions and perspectives to seeing and understanding the elements of a system together (co-sensing). During this physical mapping process, the teams will collaboratively co-create 4D models of festivals’ current reality and of the future. This workshop is playful, interactive, surprising and a lot of fun, too! 

Jacob Bilabel | Green Culture Anlaufstelle (DE)

If you want to participate, please register here: https://yourope.org/efs-interactive-program-form/

10:30 Huge Shows. Major Impacts. Modest Budgets

Dr Beatriz Garcia (mega events & urban cultural policy expert) discusses the growing impact and legacy expectations surrounding festivals, despite ever tighter budgets and administrative demands. Festivals are expected to prove their economic, social, health and environmental value while operating in highly competitive environments with scarce financial resources available. Understanding how to capture and argue the cultural and symbolic value of festivals – and their economies of scale – becomes essential to the sustainability of the sector. This session explores best-practices and exposes the most common confusions and misunderstandings surrounding claims of success or failure. What counts as big? What is expensive? What makes you transformative or life changing?

Dr. Beatriz Garcia | University of Liverpool (ES/UK)

10:30 EU Funding Opportunities for Festivals

Financing innovative ideas in festivals can be challenging, but EU funding programs like Creative Europe offer valuable support. In this session, Lea Stöver, Head of Creative Europe Desk KULTUR, will introduce participants to key funding opportunities. She will also discuss potential future developments in EU funding and how the program can help sustain and grow festivals. Don’t miss the chance to learn from the expert about securing financial backing for your festival projects.

Lea Stöver | Creative Europe Desk, Germany (DE)
Linnéa Svensson | GO Group (NO), host

11:45 Independent Festivals – Chances & Challenges

We don’t need to make a romantic fuss about the fact that the festival sector is clearly segmented today. Big companies dominate the industry, and everyone – competitors and the shrinking number of independent players alike – must contend with this reality. We ask some of the latter what it means to be independent today, and especially in the future. How has the business changed for them? What can we identify as the strengths and advantages of being independent? Is there cooperation and agreement with the global players, or is the situation seen as a threat? Under what circumstances, if any, would someone give up their independence? Let’s aim for a constructive and honest exchange on this topic.  

Achim Ostertag | Summer Breeze Open Air (DE)
Marie Sabot | We Love Green (FR)
Mikko Niemelä | Ruisrock (FI)
Codruta Vulcu | ARTmania Festival (RO)
Martin Wacker | Karlsruhe Marketing & Event GmbH / DAS FEST (DE)
James Drury | IQ Magazine (UK), host

12:00 Festivals & Cyber Security

Presented by YES Group

We will explore the real risks cyber threats pose to music festivals. Maike Vossen from Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) shares insights from her work on major events like the G7 Summit and UEFA Euro 2024, showing how cybersecurity intersects with festival safety. Joining her are cybercrime specialists Laura Lombriser and Chris Germann from Zürich’s Cantonal Police. Chris, an IT specialist focused on ransomware investigations, and Laura, a trained police officer and certified application developer, bring a blend of technical and investigative skills to confront the digital challenges festivals face. Together, they’ll discuss potential cyber impacts on festivals and share insights from their work in ransomware and digital crime investigations.

Maike Vossen | BSI (DE)
Christopher Germann | Kantonspolizei Zürich (CH)
Laura Lombriser | Kantonspolizei Zürich (CH)

12:00 Can Music Save Ukraine? – Roundtable

This roundtable exchange centres on harnessing arts, music, and festivals to strengthen support for Ukraine. Leaders, activists and artists from across the festival scene are invited to share experiences and ideas to amplify the impact of their efforts. The discussion builds on YOUROPE’s three-year collaboration with UAME and Music Saves Ukraine, as well as similar initiatives like Kultur.Konvoi, a project championed by German musician Rüdiger Linhof from Sportfreunde Stiller. Together, we will explore how the arts can continue to drive solidarity, foster resilience, raise funds and make a meaningful difference for Ukrainians during these challenging times.

Mariana Mokrynska | UAME Music saves Ukraine (UA)
Vlad Yaremchuk | Atlas Festivals & Music Saves Ukraine (UA)
Rüdiger Linhof | Sportfreunde Stiller (DE)
Markus Wiersch | Karlsruhe Marketing & Event GmbH / DAS FEST (DE)

14:15 The Joys of Outdoors: Extreme Weather

This session tackles one of the sector’s most pressing issues, as extreme weather events increasingly impact festivals worldwide. YOUROPE’s 2024 surveys underscore the urgency, highlighting extreme weather as a critical challenge for organizers. This session approaches the topic holistically, with insights from leading experts and first-hand accounts. Dr. Ulrich Blahak from the German Weather Service (DWD) brings his expertise in severe weather prediction, while Prof. Dr. Michael Kunz of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology will share his research on thunderstorms, hail and climate change. Tobias Grimm of Munich Re adds the insurance perspective, discussing risk management for climate impacts. Festival founder Michal Kaščák will offer a personal account of extreme weather’s effects on Slovakia’s Pohoda Festival, where weather conditions led to an early shutdown this year. Together, they provide a multifaceted look at how festivals can anticipate, mitigate, and adapt to weather extremes in an era of climate change.

Dr. Ulrich Blahak | DWD (DE)
Tobias Grimm | Munich Re Insurance (DE)
Michal Kaščák | Pohoda Festival (SK)
Prof. Dr. Michael Kunz | KIT – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (DE)
Markus Wiersch | Karlsruhe Marketing & Event GmbH / DAS FEST (DE), host

14:15 UTOPIA for a Better World

The Roskilde Festival Case Study

In this inspiring case study, Roskilde Festival – the Grande Dame of European music festivals – brings its renowned “orange feeling” to the stage. For 60 minutes, we’ll dive into their ambitious three-year project called UTOPIA focused on positive social impact. Kara Djurhuus, Head of Philanthropy, and Mika Christoffersen, Head of DEI & Behaviour, will present Roskilde’s unique approach to using festivals as platforms for change. They’ll share insights into how UTOPIA engages festival goers and partners to envision and work towards a more inclusive, sustainable future.

Kara Djurhuss | Roskilde Festival (DK)
Mika Christoffersen | Roskilde Festival (DK)

15.45 The Last Dance

This is the European Festival Summit’s finale. We’ll look back on insights, highlights, and memorable quotes from participants and speakers. Together, we’ll revisit impactful findings and share closing thoughts that capture the spirit of the summit. Finally, we’ll look ahead, exploring visions for the future of Europe’s festival scene as we draw the final curtain on this year’s journey.

Holger Jan Schmidt | YOUROPE (DE), host
Linnéa Svensson | GO Group (NO), host

Speakers

We’re happy to welcome some of Europe’s greatest festival minds on stage at the European Festival Summit in Karlsruhe. Experts from the various fields of festival management and production as well as external experts will provide us with know-how and expertise in areas that will be crucial for festivals in the future. Here is a list of the speakers confirmed so far in alphabetical order. More pics and bios will follow in the coming weeks:

  • Jacob Bilabel | Green Culture Anlaufstelle & Green Operations (GO) Group (DE)
  • Dr. Ulrich Blahak | DWD – German Weather Service (DE)
  • Lydia Braune | Styleheads (DE)
  • Cindy Castillo | Mad Cool Festival (ES)
  • Mika Christoffersen | Roskilde Festival (DK)
  • Prof. Moritz Dörstelmann | KIT – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (DE)
  • Kara Djurhuus | Roskilde Festival (DK)
  • James Drury | IQ Magazine (UK)
  • Eugenie “EJ” Encalarde | Festival Productions Inc., New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (US)
  • Eric van Eerdenburg | Lowlands Festival / Mojo Concerts (NL)
  • Prof. Dr. Sascha Frühholz | Universität Zürich (CH)
  • Dr. Beatriz Garcia | University of Liverpool (ES)
  • Christopher Germann | Kantonspolizei Zürich (CH) – new!
  • Tobias Grimm | Munich Reinsurance (DE)
  • Prof. Paula Guerra | University of Porto (PT)
  • Christof Huber | Gadget Entertainment Group & YOUROPE (CH)
  • Michal Kaščák | Pohoda Festival (SK)
  • Dr. Tobias Kretz | PTV (DE)
  • Prof. Dr. Michael Kunz | KIT – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (DE)
  • Rüdiger Linhof | Sportfreunde Stiller (DE) – new!
  • Laura Lombriser | Kantonspolizei Zürich (CH) – new!
  • Mariana Macedo | Boom Festival / Good Mood (PT)
  • Arnaud Meersseman | AEG presents France (FR)
  • Urs Meier | garden (DE)
  • Andreas Mestka | OpenAir St.Gallen & YES Group (CH) – new!
  • Mariana Mokrynska | Ukrainian Association of Music Events (UAME) & Music saves Ukraine (UA)
  • Mikko Niemelä | Ruisrock Festival (FI)
  • Claire O’Neill | A Greener Future (UK)
  • Achim Ostertag | Summer Breeze Open Air (DE)
  • Marta Pallarès | Primavera Sound (ES)
  • Marie Sabot | We Love Green (FR)
  • Holger Jan Schmidt | YOUROPE (DE)
  • Lea Stöver | Creative Europe Desk, Germany (DE)
  • Prof. Dr. York Sure-Vetter | KIT – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (DE)
  • Linnéa Svensson | Greener Events Norway & GO Group (NO)
  • Max Thinius | Futurneo (DE)
  • Daniel Vollmer | AppSphere AG (DE)
  • Maike Vossen | BSI – Federal Office for Information Security (DE)
  • Codruta Vulcu | ARTmania Festival (RO)
  • Martin Wacker | Karlsruhe Marketing & Event GmbH / DAS FEST (DE)
  • Markus Wiersch | Karlsruhe Marketing & Event GmbH / DAS FEST (DE)
  • Vlad Yaremchuk | Atlas Festival (UA)
  • Mikolaj Ziółkowski | Open’er Festival (PL)
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Crowd of people holding lights on a hill with two trees at night.

Photo: YOUROPE member DAS FEST by Steffen Eirich

The special hotel rate we were able to offer expired by the end of September. Nevertheless, if you wish to be in the same place like speakers and team we recommend to book at this hotel:

ACHAT Hotel Karlsruhe City ****
Mendelssohnplatz | 76131 Karlsruhe | Germany
Hotel website | Phone: +49 (0) 721 37170

Arrival & Transport

The European Festival Summit will take place in Karlsruhe – in the very heart of Europe. We will meet in the creative quarter of the city in the southwest of Germany, at one of the main transport interfaces of European mobility. Excellent connections with various means of transport are available.

Closest train station

for national and international rail services:

Public transport

Public transport is included in your registration for the whole summit period. You will find a valid QR Code on your ticket.

Please keep in mind that our partner hotel is just four tram stops away from the summit location.

The regional public transport organisation is called KVV. They offer the KVV regio move App for schedules and more. Please download the app here.

Closest Airports:
  • Frankfurt am Main (FRA)
  • Stuttgart (STR)
  • Baden Airpark – Flughafen Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden (FKB)

European Festival Summit stage with a large crowd of people at sunset.

Photo: YOUROPE member Lowlands Festival by Bart Heemskerk

Disclaimer

The European Festival Summit is organized by YOUROPE (The European Festival Association) in cooperation with Karlsruhe Marketing und Event GmbH (KME) as part of our joint European project “3F – Future-Fit Festivals”.

Logos of YOUROPE - The European Festival Association, 3F Future-Fit Festivals, Co-funded by the European Union, and Karlsruhe Marketing Event GmbH.

3F is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

(Header photo: YOUROPE member Bilbao BBK Live Festival by Sharon Lopez)