Programme

2023 Annual meeting of the presidents and secretaries-general of the ESCs of the EU and the EESC

Thursday, 16 November 2023

1.00 p.m  Welcome - arrival and registration of participants

3.00 - 3.55 p.m. Opening of the meeting by:

  • Mr Antón Costas, President of the Economic and Social Council, Spain 
  • Mr Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee 
  • Ms Magdalena Valerio, President of the Council of State of Spain 

4.00 p.m. SESSION 1 - The green and digital transitions: Economic and Social Consequences

  • Keynote speech by Mr Enrico Giovannini - Professor at the Rome University 'Tor Vergata' and at LUISS University (remotely) 
  • Brief intervention by Mr Oliver Röpke 
  • Mr Antón Costas – Presentation of the Reflection Paper of the national ESCs 

Moderated by:  Mr José Moisés Martín Carretero, Associate Professor of Economics at Camilo José Cela University. Director of RED2RED Consultores 

Debate based on the input of the National ESCs’ Working group focused on the impact of the green and digital transitions on EU economics and society5.30 - 5.50 p.m Coffee break

5.50 - 6.30 p.m. SESSION 2 - State of play of the cooperation between the EESC and the NESCs and their activities  

  • Chaired and introduced by Mr Oliver Röpke 

General discussion on: 

  • Assessment of and comments on the different common activities of the EESC and the NESCs and on new ways of working together

 

Friday, 17 November 2023

10.00 - 11.30 a.m. Session 3 – How to strengthen participatory democracy in the decision-making process 

 

  • Introduction by Mr Antón Costas and Mr Oliver Röpke   
  • Keynote speech by Ms Assya Kavrakova (Executive Director of the European Citizen Action Service ECAS)  
  • Mr Francisco Assis, President of the Economic and Social Council of Portugal – Presentation of the Reflection Paper of the national ESCs   

Moderated by: Mr José Moisés Martín Carretero, Associate Professor of Economics at Camilo José Cela University. Director of RED2RED Consultores 

Debate based on the National ESCs’ Working group focused on Citizens’ participation in democracy and its challenges 

11.30 a.m. - 12.00 p.m Coffee break

12.00 - 12.10 p.m. Endorsement of conclusions of the annual meeting

12.10 -12.30 p.m. Concluding remarks by: 

  • Mr Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee  
  • Mr Antón Costas, President of the Economic and Social Council, Spain