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