Draft programme

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PRESIDENTS AND SECRETARIES-GENERAL  OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCILS OF THE EU

Turning geopolitical challenges into a European Union success story: the contribution of organised civil society
Bucharest, 9-10 November 2022 – Hosted by the Romanian Economic and Social Council – Hotel Novotel Bucharest City Centre

DRAFT PROGRAMME

Speakers to be decided/confirmed

Wednesday, 9 November 2022

1 p.m. Welcome - Arrival and registration of participants

2:30 – 3 p.m. Opening of the meeting

  • Mr Bogdan Simion, President of the Economic and Social Council, Romania
  • Ms Christa Schweng, President of the European Economic and Social Committee

3 – 5 p.m. SESSION 1 - WELCOMING AND INTEGRATING IN THE EU THE PEOPLE FLEEING THE WAR IN UKRAINE  

  • Keynote speech by Ms Madalina Turza, Counsellor of state, Prime-Minister’s Chancellery, Strategic Coordinator of the Humanitarian Assistance Strategic Coordination Group  
  • Mr Raed Arafat, Secretary of State, Head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Ministry of Internal Affairs
  • Ms Diana Chiriacescu, National Director of the Federation of non-governmental organisations for social services (FONSS) 
  • Ms Daniela Maria Boșca, Executive Director of FONPC - Federation of NGOs for Children in Romania

General discussion on:

  • The role of organised civil society in addressing the early integration needs of people fleeing the war in Ukraine  - good practices, challenges and perspectives 
  • Turning the rights given by the Temporary Protection Directive into reality (residence, access to housing, health care, education and work)

5 – 6 p.m. SESSION 2 – FOLLOW UP TO THE CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE

Introduction by Ms Christa Schweng and Mr Bogdan Simion

General discussion on the outcome of the CoFoE, impact on the EESC, the national ESCs and related initiatives 

Thursday, 10 November 2022

9:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. SESSION 3  – THE PATH TOWARDS AN OPEN STRATEGIC AUTONOMY OF THE EU: THE VIEWS OF THE EESC,  THE NATIONAL ESCs AND ORGANISED CIVIL SOCIETY 

Keynote speech by Mr Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Minister for Energy, Romania 

  • Ms Corina Murafa, Member of the Romanian ESC, representing NGOs and foundations of civil society, General Director of Ashoka Romania 
  • General discussion, with the contributions of ESCs on strengthening EU's open strategic autonomy and addressing vulnerability and dependence, especially as regards energy and food

12:15 – 12:40 p.m. Endorsement of conclusions of the annual meeting 

  • Update on the ESCs "Erasmus" pilot project (Creating a network within organised civil societies)

12:40 – 1 p.m. Concluding remarks by:

  • Mr Bogdan Simion, President of the Economic and Social Council, Romania
  • Ms Christa Schweng, President of the European Economic and Social Committee

Interpreting: from EN/FR/RO into EN/FR/RO