Many of our fellow citizens in Europe are feeling “left behind”. Persistent poverty, economic decay and lack of opportunities are at the root of considerable discontent in many people’s minds. Regions and cities have an important role to play.
With the implementation of a fair and effective European Union’s cohesion policy, local and regional authorities can address inequality and make sustainable development a reality.
On 7 February 2019, the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions joined forces with Progressive Society and the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament to launch a renewed development pact for Europe.
Representatives of local and regional authorities, trade unions, NGOS, academics and MEPs took part in the debate.
Moderator: Anna Lisa Boni, Secretary General of EUROCITIES
Opening Address: Jeffrey D. Sachs, professor of economics at Columbia University (US), leader in sustainable development, senior UN advisor
Keynote speech: Giorgios Kaminis, Mayor of Athens (Greece), Member of the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions
Welcoming speeches / EU at a crossroad. Territories as frontrunners of a new sustainable development pact:
Room: ASP 1G369 - English only
Moderator: Daniel Termont, former Mayor of Ghent, Belgium, former President of Eurocities
Speakers:
Rapporteur: Sanjeev Kumar, CEO & Founding Director of Change Partnership (not-for-profit thought-leadership and activist organisation seeking to solve the politics of climate change to facilitate the transition to a clean, secure and prosperous world.)
Room: ASP 5G305 - English only
Moderator: Carol Thomas, Adviser Governance and Institutional Relations (Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CCRE/CEMR)
Speakers:
Rapporteur: Mercedes Bresso, Vice-President of the S&D Group in the European Parliament in charge of economic and social issues
Room: ASP 3G2 - Webstreamed
Moderator: Andrès Rodriguez-Pose, Member of ICSE
Speakers:
Rapporteur: Eric Andrieu, Vice-President of the S&D Group in the European Parliament in charge of budget and cohesion
Moderator: Anna Lisa Boni, Secretary General of EUROCITIES
High-level political discussion on issues raised in the 3 workshops
Isabelle Boudineau, President of COTER Commission in the European Committee of Regions, Vice-President Nouvelle Aquitaine Region
Andrea Cozzolino, S&D Vice-President of the REGI committee, Member of the European Parliament
Constanze Krehl, Coordinator of the S&D Group in the European Parliament for the REGI Committee
Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the European Committee of the Regions
Proclamation of the Appeal of the Progressive family “No territory and no place left behind”
Family photo and cocktail