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