European Economic
and Social Committee
Programme
8.30 a.m. Breakfast at the Montforthaus Congress Centre
9.00 a.m. Welcome address and opening of the meeting
- Hubert Hämmerle, president of the Chamber of Labour in Vorarlberg
- Arno Metzler, president of Diversity Europe Group (Group III - EESC)
- Markus Wallner, Governor of Vorarlberg, member of the European Committee of the Regions
9.45 a.m. Presentation of the Preliminary Findings of the EESC Group III study (Summary) on Societies outside Metropolises: the role of civil society organisations in facing populism by the author Huw Longton (European Citizen Action Service)
PART I - The EU's problem-solving competence: dealing with societal challenges
10.00 a.m. Panel 1 - Is EU-scepticism popular? Shifts in Voting Patterns and Public Opinion
- Moderator: Alfred Gajdosik, vice-president of Group III
- Univ.-Prof. Peter Filzmaier, political scientist
- Mag. Meinrad Pichler, historian
- Karolina Dreszer-Smalec, member of Group III
- Graham Watson, member of Group III
- Debate with the audience
11.00 a.m. Coffee break
11.15 a.m. Panel 2 - Democracy and the problem solving competence of the EU: The Role of Civil Society
- Moderator: Séamus Boland, vice-president of Group III
- Michael Diettrich, spokesman for the Conference against Poverty in Vorarlberg
- Dr. Walter Schmolly, director of Caritas Vorarlberg
- Ronny Lannoo, member of Group III
- Anne-Marie Sigmund, former president of the EESC and of Group III
- Debate with the audience
12.30 a.m. Buffet lunch in Montforthaus provided by Vorarlberg Chamber of Labour
1.30 p.m. Optional guided walking tour of the old town
PART II - The effects of EU membership on employment and economic progress
2.00 p.m. Panel 3 - Costs and Benefits of EU Membership: Prosperity in Export-oriented Regions
- Moderator: Baiba Miltoviča, vice-president of Group III
- DI Georg Comploj, manager of Getzner, Mutter & Cie. GmbH & Co. KG
- Dr. Matthias Schnetzer, economist at the Chamber of Labour in Vienna
- Mihai Ivasçu, member of Group III
- Dr. Gebhard Bechter, Director of the Chamber of Agriculture in Vorarlberg
- Evangelia Kekeleki, member of Group III
- Debate with the audience
3.00 p.m. Coffee break
3.15 p.m. Panel 4 - The Importance of a Skilled Workforce, Employment Prospects and Inclusion Policies
- Moderator: Ioannis Vardakastanis, vice-president of Group III
- Egon Blum, expert on youth employment and dual training
- Dr. Eli Eisenberg, International Innovator and Expert for TVET
- MMag. Eva King, Vorarlberg Chamber of Labour
- Krzysztof Balon, vice-president of Group III
- Jean-Marc Roirant, member of Group III
- Debate with the audience