Joint online seminar of the European Committee of the Regions, European
Commission's DG REGIO and Chicago Council on Global Affairs and partner
organizations
Bringing together decision-makers from both sides of the Atlantic, the
event aims to explore the links between socio-economic conditions and
challenges posed to democracies, foster exchanges on effective policies for
inclusive, place-based economic transition in struggling industrial
regions.
Background: In Europe, but also in the USA and Canada, due to green and
digital transition, many regions are facing a profound transformation of
their industrial fabric. Especially in regions with traditional heavy
industry branches such as coal, steel and automotive industry. Resulting
socio-economic changes are capable to challenge the democratic systems.
Local and regional governments, being closer to the citizens, are often
main actors to ensure that citizens’ concerns are heard and that these
challenges are addressed in an inclusive way.
Registration link
COTER Industrial Transformation and Democracy 9.06.2022 (europa.eu)
Speakers:
17:00 – 17:15 Opening
- Nathalie SARRABEZOLLES (FR/PES), COR COTER Commission Chair
- Congresswoman Cheri BUSTOS, D/Illinois, U.S. House of Representatives
17:15 – 17:30 Presentation of insights from the transatlantic symposium
on transforming industrial regions and its November 21 report.
- Jeffrey ANDERSON, Georgetown University BMW Center for German and
European Affairs
- John AUSTIN, Director, Michigan Economic Center and Non-resident Senior
Fellow with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the Brookings
Institution
17:30 – 18:50 Political roundtable discussion on industrial change and
democracy
Moderator: Fearghas O'Beara EPRS (European Parliament Research Service)
-
Mariví Monteserín Rodriguez, Mayor of Aviles, Spain
-
François Decoster, (RE/FR) Mayor of Saint Omer, France
-
Anna Hetman, mayor of Jastrzębie-Zdrój, Poland
-
Steve PATTERSON, Mayor of Athens, Ohio, USA
- Mike BRADLEY, Mayor of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
- Congressman Ro KHANNA D-California, U.S. House of Representatives
- Maureen DONKER, Mayor of Midland, Michigan, USA
18:50 – 19:00 Closing remarks
- Mark SPEICH, State Secretary of North Rhine Westphalia, Germany
- Peter BERKOWITZ, European Commission
Follow the event here with Interpretation in: FR/EN/ES/PL