In early November the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organizations (FEMYSO), the youth division of the Muslim Brotherhood European umbrella group, organized an art festival under the auspices of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The FEMYSO website described the event as follows:
FEMYSO organised its very first edition of the Express Your Creativity Festival with the theme What does Europe mean to you? hosted by the MEP Mr. Sajjad Karim and the MEP Mrs. Luisa Morgantini to whom all we are very thankful. From Sunday the 4th of November till Tuesday the 6th of November 2007, beginning with the results of the competition and the prize giving at the theatre of Saint-Michel, workshops and conferences at the European Parliament, the young participating artists discussed their views about their prospects. This allowed the opening of a debate with the artists and other people involved in social and cultural European issues on topics such as policies and the political climate influencing their future. The conference enabled us to develop topics and common reflections, which allowed us to start addressing the underlying issues. FEMYSO had the pleasure of driving forward this kind of initiative which has been described as a bridge across the divide of cultures and languages.
FEMYSO is the youth division of the Federation of Islamic organizations In Europe (FIOE), comprised of Muslim Brotherhood organizations from most of the EU countries as well as Turkey, Russia, and Croatia. Over the years, it has developed a relationship with both the Council of Europe and the European Commission where it has been invited since 2003 to attend meetings of the Group of Policy Advisers (GOPA). One of the important leaders of FEMYSO over the years has been Ibrahim El-Zayat, the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood in Germany.