OPEN DAYS 2010 Final Programme - European Commission - Europa

Workshops
Thursday 7 October 2010
Tackling climate change: Working with nature
Terrestrial and marine ecosystems currently absorb half of the anthropogenic
CO2 emissions and help us to adapt. Ecosystem-based approaches working
with nature - for example maintaining and restoring floodplains, greening the
cities are ready for use and bring multiple benefits. Investing in nature makes
economic sense and is vital to tackle climate change. The development of green
infrastructure provides job and business opportunities. The workshop will both
give an overview of EU policy in this field and showcase practical examples of
ecosystem-based climate change action, including projects co-financed by the
EU LIFE programme. It will target local and regional authorities and representatives
from associations in different sectors.
Challenges to social cohesion in cities and social innovation responses
The workshop will focus on challenges to social cohesion in cities and socially
innovative responses to them. It will examine the challenges to social cohesion
in cities from an integrated perspective, as well as the role of innovative social
strategies in the fight against social exclusion. As well as presenting the findings
from different networks funded by the Research Framework Programme, the
workshop will examine how cohesion policy can contribute to tackling these
issues.
European cohesion policy and Roma inclusion - new initiatives
The Roma community is the largest minority group in the EU featuring an
extremely large number of marginalised people, the majority of whom live in
Central and Eastern European countries. European cohesion policy is the key
to helping improve their socio-economic conditions by introducing distinct
educational, labour market and housing initiatives and strengthening access to
social and healthcare facilities. To promote Roma inclusion, the EU has recently
given its support to a host of innovative projects and policy initiatives, including
the Roma Inclusion Pilot Project, the amendment of the ERDF regulation on
housing, Presidency conclusions and high-level meetings. Member States,
international organisations, NGOs, and regional and local actors are invited to
discuss how to contribute to this dialogue on Roma inclusion. The workshop
provides an opportunity to hear the voices of all those working on the ground,
giving their views on how the changes introduced by the EU meet their
expectations and on the potential opportunities these changes offer.
07C19
09:00 - 10:45
Venue: Committee of the Regions, JDE 51
Organisers: Committee of the Regions and
European Commission, DG Environment
Speakers: Angelo Salsi, DG Environment,
European Commission, Brussels; Karin
Zaunberger, DG Environment, European
Commission, Brussels; Linda Gillham, Member
of the Committee of the Regions, Member of
Runnymede Borough Council, United Kingdom
07C20
09:00 - 10:45
Venue: Centre Borschette, room 1A
Organisers: European Commission, DGs for
Research and Regional Policy
Speakers: Corinne Hermant-de-Callatay,
DG Regional Policy, European Commission,
Brussels; Frank Moulaert, Katholieke Universiteit
Leuven/Newcastle University, Leuven, Belgium;
Jordi Vila, Municipality of Malgrat, Catalonia,
Spain; Maricol Garcia, University of Barcelona,
Spain; Pierre Valette, DG Research,European
Commission, Brussels; Serena Vicari, University
of Milano Biccocca, Italy; Thomas Emmenegger,
President, Olinda Association
07C21
09:00 - 10:45
Venue: Centre Borschette, room 0 C
Organiser: European Commission, DGs for Regional
Policy and Employment, Social Affairs and Equal
Opportunities
Chair: Mikel Landabaso, Head of Unit, Directorate
General for Regional Policy; Lenia Samuel, DG
Employment, Rudolf Niessler, Director from Regional
Policy DG
Speakers: Iva Šolcová, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs,
Czech Republic; Lenia Samuel, DG Employment, Social
Affairs and Equal Opportunities, European Commission,
Brussels; Roussinova Savelina, Open Society Institute,
Brussels; Toth Attila, Municipality Nyiregyhaza, Hungary;
Ujlaky Andras, Director, Kiut Private Limited Company
56 OPEN DAYS 2010 – European Week of Regions and Cities