30 November Key challenges for the Euro-Mediterranean region
8.30 – 9.30 a.m. Registration
9.30 – 11 a.m. Opening session
Welcome speech
- Georges Dassis, EESC President
The political situation in the Euromed region and the challenges it faces 20 years on from the Barcelona Declaration
Moderator: Dilyana Slavova, president of the EESC Section for External Relations
- Nizar Baraka, President of the Moroccan ESEC
- Marcos Peña, President of the Spanish ESC
- Delphine Borione, Deputy Secretary-General, Union for the Mediterranean
- Christian Berger, Director for the Mideast and North Africa, EEAS
- Sergio Piccolo, Advisor to the Director, DG NEAR, European Commission
Discussion
11 - 11.30 a.m. Coffee break
11.30 a.m. - 1 p.m. A new European Neighbourhood Policy
Moderator: Marianne Nati-Stoffel, Secretary-General of the Luxembourg ESC
- To what extent will the EU's new neighbourhood policy enable it to respond to the challenges facing the region?
- What are the key issues for the Euromed region right now?
- How do relations between the EU and its southern neighbourhood currently stand?
- Sergio Piccolo, Advisor to the Director, DG NEAR, European Commission
- Madlen Serban, Director, European Training Foundation
- Conny Reuter, Secretary-General, SOLIDAR
- Grace Attard, Rapporteur for the report on the situation of women in the Euro-Mediterranean region
- Salim Salamah, Blogger and activist, Palestinian Human Rights League - Syria
Discussion
1 - 2.30 p.m. Lunch at the invitation of the EESC
2.30 - 4 p.m. Prospects for regional dialogue
Moderator: Lidija Pavić-Rogošić, EESC member
- What are the future prospects for the Euromed region in view of the challenges discussed earlier in the day?
- What can drive cooperation and regional integration?
- How does the regional dialogue benefit the EU and its southern partners?
- José Luis Vinuesa, Head of Sector, Regional Programmes Neighbourhood South, DG NEAR
- Mohammed Seghir Babès, President of the Algerian National Economic and Social Council (CNES)
- Lurdes Vidal, Head of the Department for the Arab and Mediterranean World, IEMed
- Bichara Khader, Professor, Study and Research Group on the Contemporary Arab World, Catholic University of Leuven (UCL)
Discussion
4 – 4.30 p.m. Coffee break
4.30 - 6 p.m. Involvement of economic and social stakeholders in the development of the region
Moderator: Shaher Saad, Secretary General, Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions
- How can economic and social stakeholders share in the prosperity of the region and in its economic and social development?
- What is their role in the development of participatory democracy?
- What specific contributions can they make in the dialogue with the authorities?
- Felix Peinado, Spanish ESC
- Kacem Afaya, Deputy Secretary-General, General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT)
- Arnaldo Abruzzini, Secretary-General, Eurochambres
- Carlos Lozano, Coordinator of the ESMED Network
Discussion
1 December: Working together to address the challenge of migration and refugees
9.30 - 11 a.m. Long-term perspective, integration
Moderator: Roger Nasnas, President of the Lebanese ESC
- What contribution can migrants make to society across Europe?
- Current examples of good practice by civil society in the integration of asylum seekers
- Vocational training – a key factor in integration?
- Thomas Huddleston, Policy analyst, Migration Policy Group
- Cinzia Del Rio, EESC member
- Johan Leman, President of the Foyer association, Molenbeek
Discussion
11 - 11.30 a.m. Coffee break
11.30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Humanitarian issues
Moderator: Arjola Alika, Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania
- How can civil society play its part in the reception of refugees, both North and South?
- What are the long-term prospects for the refugees currently in refugee camps in Europe's neighbourhood?
- What role should civil society play in combating migrant trafficking?
- What solutions can be found to ensure a safe passage to Europe?
- Brenda King, EESC member
- Kamel Mohanna, President of the Amel Association
- Carole Mansour, director of the documentary “Not who we are”
- Taïb Madmad, Secretary-General, Moroccan Human Rights Association
Discussion
1 - 2.30 p.m. Lunch at the invitation of the EESC
2.30 - 4 p.m. Political issues
Moderator: Dimitris Dimitriadis, EESC member
- How should this challenge be incorporated into the relationship between the EU and its southern partners as well as into the national dialogue of all of the individual countries?
- What impact is this crisis having on regional and bilateral relations in the Euromed region?
- How can civil society have a policy input with regard to migration issues?
- Cristian Pîrvulescu, EESC member
- Ahmed Majdalani, former Minister for Labour and President of the Palestinian ESC
- Dan Catarivas, Director, Manufacturers' Association of Israel
- Osman Yildiz, General Secretary, HAK-İŞ Confederation of Workers
Discussion
4 - 4.15 p.m. Coffee break
4.15 - 5 p.m. Adoption of the final declaration
- José María Zufiaur, President of the Euromed Follow-up Committee