OPEN DAYS 2010 Final Programme - European Commission - Europa

Workshops
Tuesday 5 October 2010
Creating and enabling women entrepreneurs:
The green economy and more
There is a huge untapped resource which our society needs to harness effectively
the enterprise of women. Research shows that in one city alone, Liverpool, the
GDP of the city could be increased by some 800 million British pounds if women
reached the same level of economic activity as men. Parallel to this challenge
is the challenge of adapting to a greener economy. More women setting up
green enterprises would therefore provide for both a wealthier and more
environmentally friendly society.
Bridging the digital divide
The lack of access to digital and information technology can be an important
factor of social and economic exclusion. As a service comparable to the other
utilities, that is, roads, water and electricity, broadband is now increasingly
perceived as the fourt utility. There is therefore a need to guarantee that high
quality communication services are offered at reasonable prices to all, irrespective
of their social, economic or geographic situation. Such services constitute a
significant tool that contributes to social and economic inclusion as well as
territorial cohesion. Local and regional authorities play a key role in ensuring
affordable broadband access, in cities as well as in remote areas. A common pitfall
in broadband deployment is the risk of market failure, where private operators
perceive little return on infrastructural investment or where mountainous and
upland terrain makes it a particularly complex and onerous task. Many local and
regional authorities provide leadership through pilot projects aimed at bridging
the e-Accessibility gap and developing new approaches of citizen-centred public
e-services. They also play a crucial role in promoting IT literacy and providing
the relevant training, in particular to vulnerable groups that have a significant
digital competency gap such as elderly, economically inactive and less educated
people. The need to invest in Information and communication technologies ITC
have been a priority of the renewed Lisbon Strategy and remains a key objective
of the new Europe 2020 strategy. In fact, digital society, alongside education and
innovation, constitutes an inextricable part of smart growth. To this effect, the
Europe 2020 strategy has dedicated one of its seven flagship initiatives to the
implementation of A digital agenda for Europe, with a view to speeding up the
roll-out of high-speed internet and reaping the benefits of a digital single market
for households and firms.
05C01
09:00 - 10:45
Venue: Committee of the Regions, JDE 51
Organiser: Committee of the Regions/ALDE
Group
Speakers: Caroline Alazard, Greenext, France;
Elma Bassa, Mobas Projects, Netherlands;
Flo Clucas, Member of the Committee of
the Regions, President of the ALDE Group,
Member of Liverpool City Council, United
Kingdom; Cristina Martinez, Organisation
for European Economic Cooperation
OECD, France; Maggie O'Carroll, WICED
-Womens International Centre of Economic
Development-, United Kingdom
05C02
09:00 - 10:45
Venue: Committee of the Regions, JDE 62
Organiser: Committee of the Regions/PES
Group
Speakers: Mercedes Bresso, President of
the Committee of the Regions; Bob Bright,
Newport City Council, United Kingdom;
William E Kennard, The U.S. ambassador
to the European Union (to be confirmed);
Karl-Heinz Klär, Member of the Committee
of the Regions, President of the PES Group,
Rhineland Palatinate State Delegate for the
German Federation and for Europe, Germany;
René Souchon, Member of the Committee of
the Regions, President of Auvergne Regional
Council, France; Catherine Trautmann,
Member of the European Parliament (to be
confirmed)
26 OPEN DAYS 2010 – European Week of Regions and Cities