Programme

Social dimension of territorial cohesion in Europe

Purpose
This one-day event organised by ELISAN will provide an opportunity to debate the principle of territorial cohesion and to highlight the extent to which local authorities are not only concerned but also have their own contribution to make to sustainable and balanced territorial development in Europe.

The debate will be held against the backdrop of a Europe currently characterised by:
- the recognition, in the Lisbon reform treaty, of the principle of territorial cohesion, in addition to economic and social cohesion;
- the work of the Ministers responsible for regional development and the adoption of the territorial agenda and Leipzig Charter in 2007 ;
- the publication in October 2008 of the European Commission’s Green Paper on territorial cohesion and launch of a public consultation on the subject (to run until February 2009).

The event is aimed in particular at members of the ELISAN network.
It will set out to:
- raise awareness among participants of the issues at stake in relation to territorial cohesion in Europe and of the specific social challenges posed by this principle;
- develop the pooling of experience, to show the extent to which local social action can contribute towards balanced territorial development;
- publicise ELISAN’s position on the subject

9 – 9.30 am	Welcome
9.30 – 10 am	Welcome words Michel Delebarre (tbc) Vice-president of the committee of the regions Patrick Kanner President of the european local inclusion and social actions network – ELISAN
10 – 11.15 am	Introductory round table : "Social challenges and territorial cohesion" This first round table session will be an opportunity to address the main social challenges common to all Member States (demographic challenges, urban/rural imbalances, equal access to social rights and services, changes resulting from globalisation, higher energy prices, urban sprawl, etc) as well as policy solutions adopted so far by the European Union and the prospects opened up by the principle of territorial cohesion. Chair of the round-table Véronique Fayet Vice-president of the CCAS - Bordeaux – France ELISAN – Board member
11.15 am – 12.45 pm	Round table N°2 : "How can local stakeholders appropriate the instruments of economic, social and territorial cohesion?" This Round Table will look at how local stakeholders use the different levels (in particular financial) provided by regional policy to implement innovative social projects in an approach geared towards balanced regional development. Chair of the round-table Paul –Emile Mottard President of the association of Walloon provinces – Belgium ELISAN - Board member
12.45 – 1.15 pm	Awarding ceremony of the European Alzheimer prize organized by ELISAN and the Médéric Alzheimer foundation.
1.15 – 2.30 pm	Lunch and cocktail Introduction Patrick Kanner, president of ELISAN Daniel Dantand, Direction strategy and sustainable development – GDF – SUEZ
2.30 – 4 pm	Round table N° 3 : "How to guarantee equal access to social rights and services across the regions?" The question of equal access to social rights and local social services is key to the debates on how to ensure Europe’s balanced development. How can this principle of territorial equity be guaranteed? What is the situation regarding the debate on SSGI (social services of general interest)? Chair of the round-table Yvan Mayeur, President of the Brussels CPAS – Belgium Vice-president of ELISAN
4 – 4.30 pm	Closing round table : "ELISAN recommendation for better account to be taken of the role of local social stakeholders in an approach based on territorial cohesion" The appeal for a concerted approach to territorial cohesion offers encouragement to local stakeholders in the social sphere to participate in the debates. For ELISAN it will mean thinking about ways of rendering the principle of subsidiarity more operational while still pursuing the goal of territorial cohesion, particularly in the context of the forthcoming programming exercise for the 2013-2020 structural funds period. President of the round-table Stefano Valdegamberi Regional counselor of social affairs of the Veneto region - Italy Vice-president of ELISAN Closing word Vladimir Spidla European commissioner for employment, social affairs and equal opportunities