European Economic
and Social Committee
Programme
DRAFT PROGRAMME
1 December 2021
9:15–10:00 Registration and welcome coffee
10:00-11:00 Opening session
Moderator: Dimitris Dimitriadis, president of the section for External Relations of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
- Christa Schweng, president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
- Ghita Mezzour, Moroccan Minister of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform
- Ahmed Réda Chami, president of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (ESEC) of Morocco
- Abdelkader El Khissassi, deputy secretary-general of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) in charge of Economic Development and Employment
11:00–11:30 Coffee break/press conference with opening session panellists
11:30–11:45 Special Session
- M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Co-chair of the Turkey-EU Joint Consultative Committee - Debrief on "Disaster management in the Mediterranean region"
11:45–13:00 Session 1: COVID-19: The role of civil society in the reconstruction and resilience of the Euro-Mediterranean region
This session will be based on draft information report REX/537 on the same subject, which was drawn up by the EESC and sent to the delegations before the summit. It will provide an opportunity to address a number of issues in a broad discussion with the audience.
Moderator: ESC of Lebanon
- Angelo Pagliara, rapporteur REX/537 , EESC
- Moncef Ziani, member, Moroccan ESEC
Debate with national ESCs and similar institutions
13:00–14:30 Networking lunch hosted by the EESC
14:30–16:00 Session 2: Workshops
This session is dedicated to work in smaller groups, in order to develop more specific recommendations.
Workshop 1 (face-to-face) - The road to economic recovery
Moderator: Dolores Sammut Bonnici, EESC member and executive board member of BUSINESSMED
Key speakers
- Dan Catarivas, ESC of Israel
- Kenza Occansey, vice-president, Economic, Social and Environmental Council of France
Workshop 2 (face-to-face) - Mitigating the social impact of COVID-19
Moderator: Shaher Saed, member, ESC of Palestine
Key speakers
- Mohamed Abdallahi Siyam, vice-president, ESC of Mauritania
- Mustapha Tlili, secretary general, Arab Trade Union Confederation
- Ricardo Irra, Social Protection specialist, International Labour Organisation
Workshop 3 (face-to-face + virtual) - COVID-19 – An opportunity for sustainable development?
Moderator: Lidija Pavić-Rogošić, EESC rapporteur on Sustainable development in the Mediterranean region
Key speakers:
- Francisco Carbonero Cantador, vice-president, ESC of Spain
- Gian Paolo Gualaccini, coordinator, Commission for European Affairs and International Cooperation, CNEL, Italy
- Rym Ayadi, founder and president, Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association
16:00–16.30 Coffee break
16.30–18.00 Session 3: Restitution of the workshop conclusions
In this session, the 3 moderators will present the main recommendations of their respective workshops.
Moderator: Milena Angelova, EESC member and member of the Euromed Follow-Up Committee
Debate with national ESCs and similar institutions
18:00–20:30 Dinner hosted by the Moroccan ESEC
2 December 2021
09:00–09:15 Opening remarks
- Maya Urbanska, Head of Political/Trade/Economic/Press and Information Section of the EU Delegation to Morocco
09:15-10:30 Session 4: Renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood
Session 4 focuses on the strengthened Mediterranean partnership with a budget of up to € 9 billion (2021-2027). Participants will be able to debate about its potential to alleviate the economic and social impact of COVID-19 and to foster integration within the Mediterranean region.
Moderator: Metri Mdannat, Secretary General, ESC of Jordan
- María Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, EESC rapporteur "Renewed Partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood – An new agenda for the Mediterranean"
- Ingrid Schwaiger, deputy head of unit, B2 - Regional Cooperation Neighbourhood South, Economic Investment Plan, DG NEAR, European Commission
Debate with national ESCs and similar institutions
10:30-11:00 Coffee break
11:00-12:15 Session 5: Networks in the Euro-Mediterranean area – developing regional cooperation
Session 5 gives the floor to regional networks to present their activities and enhance their visibility.
Moderator: Ioannis Paidas, President, ESC of Greece
- Marion Steff, manager for international cooperation, European Disability Forum, presenting the Euro-Mediterranean disability rights network
- Roger Albinyana, managing director, European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed)
- Vicent Garcés Ramón, president, Mediterranean Citizens' Assembly Foundation (MCAF)
- Vincenzo Bianco, member, Catania Municipal Council, Committee of the Regions and Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM)
Debate with national ESCs and similar institutions
12:15 - 12:30 Closing session/Euromed Summit 2022
- Ioannis Vardakastanis, president of the Euromed Follow-Up Committee, EESC
- Younes Benakki, secretary-general, ESEC of Morocco
12:30 - 13:30 - Networking lunch hosted by the EESC