Programme

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PROGRAMME

31 May 2022

09:15–10:00 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)
  •  Aawatif Hayar, Moroccan Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family
  • Ahmed Réda Chami, president of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council of Morocco (ESEC)
  • Abdelkader El Khissassi, deputy secretary-general of the Union for the Mediterranean, head of the Economic Development and Employment division t

11:00–11:30 Coffee break/press conference with opening session panellists

11:30–11:45 Special Session: Debriefing on disaster management in the Mediterranean

  • Mustafa Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, co-chair of the Turkey-EU Joint Consultative Committee
  • Violeta Jelić, co-rapporteur, REX/542 , EESC

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: Jihen Boutiba, general secretary, BUSINESSMED

  • Thomas Wagnsonner, study group member REX/537 , EESC
  • Moncef Ziani, member, Moroccan ESEC

Debate

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 - The road to economic recovery

Languages: AR/EN/FR

Moderator: Dolores Sammut Bonnici, EESC member and executive board member of BUSINESSMED

Key speakers

  • Dan Catarivas, ESC of Israel
  • Adrien Labaune, Head of the Diplomatic service, CESE France
  • Mariarosa Lunati, senior advisor, Middle East and Africa Division, OECD

Debate

Workshop 2 - Mitigating the social impact of COVID-19

Languages: AR/EN/FR

Moderator: Majed Al-Helou, member, ESC of Palestine and chairman, Palestinian Pension Agency

Key speakers

  • Mohamed Abdallahi Siyam, vice-president, ESC of Mauritania 
  • Patrick Itschert, deputy secretary-general, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
  • Ricardo Irra, social protection specialist, ILO

Debate

Workshop 3 - The impact of COVID-19 and the Ukraine war on sustainable development in Euromed

Languages: AR/EN/FR/ES

Moderator: Lidija Pavić-Rogošić, EESC rapporteur for "REX/526 - Sustainable development in the Mediterranean region"

Key speakers

  • Cristina Estévez Navarro, 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

Debate

16:00–16:30 Coffee break

16:30–18:00 Session 3: Restitution of the workshop conclusion

In this session, the moderators of session 2 will present the main recommendations developed in their respective workshops.

Moderator: Milena Angelova, member, EESC Euromed Follow-Up Committee

Debate

1 June 2022

09:00–09:10 Opening remarks

  • Jan Vandenberghe, Head of the Trade Section, EU Delegation to Morocco

09:10–10:30 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 its potential to alleviate the economic and social impact of COVID-19 and to foster integration within the Mediterranean region.

Moderator: Metri Al Mdannat, secretary-general, ESC of Jordan

  • Ioannis Paidas, president, ESC of Greece
  • María Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, EESC rapporteur for "REX/540 - A new Agenda for the Mediterranean"
  • Roger Albinyana, managing director, European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed)

Debate

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: Apostolos Xyrafis, secretary-general, International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS) & ESC of Greece

  • Arianna Censi, vice-president, Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) of the European Committee of the Regions; city councillor responsible for mobility, City of Milan
  • Josep Ferré, executive director, Anna Lindh Foundation
  • Marion Steff, manager for international cooperation, European Disability Forum, presenting the Euro-Mediterranean disability rights network
  • Vicent Garcés Ramón, president, Mediterranean Citizens' Assembly Foundation (MCAF)

Debate

12:15–12:30 Closing session/Euromed Summit 2022

  • Ioannis Vardakastanis, president, Euromed Follow-Up Committee, EESC
  • Mohamed Alaoui, bureau member, ESEC of Morocco 

12:30–13:30 Networking lunch hosted by the EESC