European Economic and Social Committee

Section for Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion

Public hearing

on

Mapping macro-regional strategies across Europe

Wednesday, 26 November 2014

10 a.m. to 1.p.m.

European Economic and Social Committee

99 rue Belliard - 1040 Brussels

room JDE 63

DRAFT PROGRAMME

9.30 a.m. / Registration and coffee
10.00 a.m. / Welcome address and introduction
·  Dimitris Dimitriadis, President of the study group of the opinion "Macro-regional Strategies across Europe", European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
·  Rossella Rusca, Expert on EU Cohesion Policy, Permanent Representation of Italy, Brussels
·  Peter Mehlbye, Director, Coordination Unit, ESPON
Keynote speaker: Macro-regions in the new programming period
·  Corina Creţu, Commissioner-designate for Regional Policy, European Commission (tbc)
10.45 a.m. / Background of the debate
·  Etele Baráth, Rapporteur of the opinion " Macro-regional Strategies across Europe", EESC
11.00 a.m. / Round table – When the Regions meet
Round 1: Experiences to share
·  Per Bødker Andersen, President of the Union of the Baltic Cities and Councillor of City of Kolding, Denmark (tbc)
·  Ferenc Antal, Expert of project development and implementation of EU Strategy for the Danube Region, Sportrendszer Nonprofit Kft
Moderator:
·  András Vértes, Expert of the Rapporteur of the opinion "Macro-regional Strategies across Europe", EESC
Round 2: Challenges to face together
·  Gian Mario Spacca, President of the Region of Marche and Rapporteur of the opinion "EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region", Committee of the Regions (tbc)
·  Markus Reiterer, Secretary General, Alpine Convention
·  Arantza Lopez de Munain Zulueta, Basque Economic and Social Council, RTA
·  Andreas D. Mavroyiannis, Ambassador, Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former Minister of Cyprus for European Affairs
Moderator:
·  Marco Celi, Expert of the Rapporteur for the exploratory opinion "Adriatic-Ionian Macro-regional Strategy", EESC
Horizontal matters in macro-regional thinking (contributing to both rounds)
·  Juliane Kürschner, Vice President, METREX
·  Stephane Ouaki, Head of Unit, MOVE.B4 - Connecting Europe - Infrastructure Investment Strategies, European Commission
Discussion
12.45 p.m. / Conclusions
·  Etele Baráth, Rapporteur of the opinion "Macro-regional Strategies across Europe", EESC
Interpretation / from: / ES/EL/EN/FR/IT/HU
into: / EN/FR/HU