On 9 May 1948, during the plenary session of the Cultural Committee of the Congress of Europe in The Hague, the Swiss philosopher and critic, Denis de Rougemont, rapporteur for the Committee, emphasises the importance of the cultural dimension of European unification.

In November 1948, the cultural section of the European Movement and the Planning Board for a European Centre for Culture publish together a programme for the European Conference on Culture due to be held in Lausanne from 8 to 12 December 1949.

In preparation for the European Conference on Culture held in Lausanne from 8 to 12 December 1949, the Planning Board for a European Centre for Culture led by the Swiss federalist, Denis de Rougemont, finalises a general report based on around 40 specialist reports which identifies the difficulties facing culture in Europe and proposes the establishment of a series of specifically European institutions responsible for its development.

On 3 December 1949, the Gazette de Lausanne comments on the meaning and the scope of the European Conference on Culture and calls for ‘powerful and concerted action at an emotional and spiritual level’ to be taken in Europe.

On 8 December 1949, in his opening address at the European Conference on Culture held in Lausanne, the writer and former Spanish diplomat, Salvador de Madariaga, emphasises the need for post-war Europe to unite around the values of freedom and respect for the individual in order for it to gain a better awareness of itself and its culture.

In 1950, the monthly publication Fédération publishes a transcription of the address given by Denis de Rougemont, Swiss essayist and federalist, on 8 December 1948 in Lausanne at the opening of the European Conference on Culture.

At the European Conference on Culture held from 8 to 12 December 1949 in Lausanne, Carlo Schmid, Vice-President of the Committee of the German Parliamentary Council, gives an address in which he speculates on the fundamental nature of Europe and tries to identify what characterises ‘European man’.

On 9 December 1949, La Gazette de Lausanne welcomes the participants attending the European Conference on Culture and, alluding to the history of the Swiss Confederation, expresses its hope that they will find an atmosphere conducive to their work on the banks of the Léman.

On 9 December 1949, in the French daily newspaper Le Figaro, the writer Georges Duhamel, Member of the French Academy, publishes the text of the message that he gave to the organisers of the European Conference on Culture in Lausanne to emphasise the importance and significance of their work.

On 9 December 1949, reporting on the opening of the European Conference on Culture the previous day, the Gazette de Lausanne publishes an exchange of letters between the Swiss essayist, Denis de Rougement, and the Romanian writer, Virgil Gheorghiu, who outlines the reasons why he is reluctant to attend. In reply, Denis de Rougement gives grounds for hope and calls on Gheorghiu to become an ‘active pessimist'.

On 10 December 1949, the Gazette de Lausanne describes the work of the European Conference on Culture. It summarises, in particular, the addresses given by Duncan Stephen, British poet, on the need for an independent European culture and by the Swiss conductor, Ernest Ansermet, on the importance of a shared European consciousness. The newspaper emphasises, however, that the conference must propose tangible cultural plans. It also includes three portraits of European figures: Duncan Sandys, Elisabeth Bowen and Carlo Schmid.

On 10 December 1949, the Journal de Genève sets out the objectives of the European Conference on Culture and advocates a pro-European optimism, despite the fact that the continent is divided.

On 14 December 1949, reporting on the proceedings of the European Conference on Culture held a few days earlier in Lausanne by the European Movement, the Swiss daily newspaper Journal de Genève speculates on the definition of the concept of ‘Europe’.

On 16 December 1949, reporting in the French daily newspaper Le Monde on the European Conference on Culture that has recently come to an end in Lausanne, the French literary historian and essayist, Pierre-Henri Simon, comments on the exchange of letters between the Swiss author, Denis de Rougement, and the Romanian writer, Virgil Gheorghiu, on the subject of whether there is still a way of saving the old Europe.

In January 1950, Max Richard, Editor-in-Chief of the French monthly publication Fédération, considers the European Conference on Culture held in Lausanne in December 1949 and gives an overview of the main debates which took place during the Conference.

On 1 February 1950, the Swiss writer, Robert de Traz, reports in the French monthly journal La Revue des Deux Mondes on the proceedings and the implications of the European Conference on Culture held in Lausanne from 8 to 12 December 1949.