Programme

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10 a.m.– 10.05 a.m. Welcome

Ms Dilyana Slavova, President of the Section for External Relations, EESC

10.05 a.m.– 10.15 a.m.  Introductory Remarks

Mr Alberto Mazzola, President of the International Trade Follow-up Committee, EESC

10.15 a.m.– 10.35 a.m. Opening Session

Chair: Ms Emmanuelle Butaud-Stubbs, Member of the Employers' Group, EESC

  • Mr Peter Sandler, Director, DG Trade, European Commission
  • Mr Boyan Natan, Counsellor, Head of Sector Trade at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Bulgaria (tbc)
  • Ms Debora Lepre, First Counsellor, Permanent Representation of Italy to the EU

10.35 a.m.– 11.35 a.m. Round Table 1 - An overview of the current situation concerning the ratification process

Chair: Ms Benedicte Federspiel, Member of the Diversity Europe, EESC

Speakers:

  • Mr Bernd Schuh, Expert on the democratic dimension of EU negotiations of EU Trade Agreements, Chairman Board of Directors ÖIR
  • Mr Jacques Maire, Vice-president of the commission for Foreign Affairs of the French National Assembly
  • Mr Dirk van der Maelen, Chairman of the Committee for External Relations, Chamber of Representatives, Belgium

Q&A session

11.35 a.m.– 11.45 a.m. Coffee break

11.45 a.m.– 12.45 p.m. Round Table 2 – How civil society is informed of and involved in free trade agreements

Chair: Ms Tanja Buzek, Member of the Workers' Group, EESC

Speakers:

Part 1 – Trade agreements: what is in it for the general interest?

  • Ms Léa Auffret, Senior Trade Policy Officer, BEUC
  • Ms Cécile Toubeau, Director, Better Trade and Regulation, Transport & Environment

Part 2 – Growth and jobs in the EU: what role for trade?

  • Mr Andrés Barcelo Delgado, Member of the Employers' Group, EESC, Spain,
  • Mr Daniele Basso, Advisor, ETUC

Q&A session

12.45 p.m.– 1 p.m. Closing remarks

  • Mr Alberto Mazzola, President of the International Trade Follow-up Committee, EESC
  • Ms Dilyana Slavova, President of the Section for External Relations, EESC