Programme

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Morning Session (09:00 – 11:30 - meeting room Tonsalen)

Round-table discussion between representatives of regional governments from territories with geographic handicaps and members of the EESC. The session aims to nourish the EESC opinion “Main challenges faced by EU islands, and mountainous and sparsely populated areas” voicing the main problematics faced by these territories.

Welcome and introduction by the moderator: Eleni MARIANOU, Secretary General at Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions

  • Opening speech: by Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, EESC Member, President of ECO Section and rapporteur for the own-initiative opinion “Main challenges faced by EU islands, and mountainous and sparsely populated areas”.
  • The European Commission perspective: Sławomir TOKARSKI, Director for European Territorial Cooperation, Macro-regions, Interreg and Programme Implementation I in DG REGIO.
  • Erik BERGQVIST, Member of the Regional Committee at the European Parliament
  • Statement by Paivi EKDAHL, Chair NSPA network, Regional Council of Lapland
  • Statement by Filip REINHAG, Deputy Mayor of Gotland
  • Statement by Sabrina SUIKKI, International Business Manager, Norrbotten Chamber of Commerce

Exchange of views with the audience

Networking lunch (12:00-13:00)

After this lunch, participants can join the Europaforum Norra Sverige 2023. Interested participants can register here.

Afternoon Session (15:00 – 17:00)

The afternoon session is already part of the Europaforum Norra Sverige 2023

POLITICAL SESSION

Overcoming geographical challenges in northern sparsely populated areas and islands to strengthen economic growth via EU regional development policy

Panel discussions between representatives of the EU institutions and representatives of regional governments. (More information on the session to be added)

Moderated by: Mikael JANSON, North Sweden European Office Director

  • Keynote speech by Sławomir TOKARSKI, Director for European Territorial Cooperation, Macro-regions, Interreg and Programme Implementation I in DG REGIO
  • Address by Patrik SÄLLSTRÖM, Head of unit regional development, Swedish National Growth Agency
  • Address by Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, EESC Member, President of ECO Section

Panel consisting of:

  • Sławomir TOKARSKI, Director for European Territorial Cooperation, Macro-regions, Interreg and Programme Implementation, EU commission DG REGIO
  • Patrik SÄLLSTRÖM, Head of unit regional development, Swedish National Growth Agency
  • Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, EESC Member, President of ECO Section
  • Tomas MÖRTSELL, chair CPMR Baltic Sea Commission, Västerbotten
  • Jonas ANDERSSON, Rapporteur European Forum Northern Sweden, Region Jämtland Härjedalen
  • Ann ÅSTRÖM, Rapporteur European Forum Northern Sweden, Skellefteå Municipality
  • Päivi EKDAHL, chair NSPA network, Regional Council of Lapland
  • Sabrina SUIKKI, International Business Manager, Norrbotten Chamber of Commerce

Languages: EN/SV to EN/FR