​​​​​Media accreditation to the event is now closed.

On the spot accreditation and late accreditation are still possible but will only be approved in exceptional cases.

Journalists can still follow the debates via the webstreaming on this website.

For any media query, please see below the list of media ​contacts.

Click here for practical information​

Venue

The 8th European Summit of Regions and Cities is being h eld at the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest: Strada Izvor 2-4, București (Calea 13 Septembrie 1, Sector 5).

Journalists will enter via the S2 entrance (Izvor Street) where they will pick up their badge.

Media Center

The main hub for the press will be the Media Center at the Palace of Parliament (on S1 floor).

It is equipped with:

  • 250 work spaces with broadband, phone and ISDN connections
  • 20 soundproofed media booths with A/V editing facilities and broadband
  • a TV studio
  • 10 stand up positions to record one-to-one TV/radio interview (TV crew at disposal)
  • 250 lockers

Wi-Fi

There will be free Wi-Fi access inside the meeting rooms and throughout the building. No password is needed.

Web-streaming

The Summit’s sessions will be recorded live and broadcast on www.eulocal-summit.eu

Social Media

Share your comments on the conference and engage with others via Twitter #EUlocal

Social media visuals are available for download on the Summit website in 4 languages (EN, FR, DE, RO)

Image disclaimer

During the Summit, you m​ay be photographed or filmed by a photographer or camera operator working on behalf of the CoR. Please note that the CoR is responsible solely for photos and videos taken by its staff or contractors. Practical information Media materials are available on the Media page of the Summit

Galleries

Social Media Toolkit

Twitter #Eulocal

 

Contact

Nathalie Vandelle

 General press requests, FR-speaking press 
 +32 497 400 107 

Laura Serassio

 AV journalists, IT speaking press 
 +32 487 145 382 

Carmen Schmidle

 DE speaking press 
 +32 494 735 787 

Milica Neacsu

 RO speaking press 
 +40 722 225 504 / +32 496 199 289 
 

Andrew Gardner

 Press Officer - Other press 
 +32 473 843 981 

Serafino Nardi

 General press requests 
 +32 476 509 294 

Eleonore Clerbois

 Practical information 
 +32 473 273 348  

Klaudia Bencze

 Social Media Team 
 +32 2 282 2285 

Media Programme

Thursday 14 March 2019
12:00-13:30 (UTC+2)
Press welcome

Theme: Short introduction to the Summit: your questions answered
​Who will be there: European Committee of the Regions Press Team
Welcome by Serafino Nardi, Head of Press, Committee of the Regions
Lunch will be provided


Room: Media Centre - Iuliu Manu (1st floor)
12:30-13:00 (UTC+2)
Press Conference
​In parallel with the Press Welcome
Speakers:
  • Corina Crețu - Commissioner for Regional Policy
  • Robert Sorin Negoiță - President of the Romanian Delegation at CoR/President of the Romanian Municipalities Association
  • Marian Oprișan - President of the National Union of County Councils of Romania
  • Mădălin-Ady Teodosescu - President of the Association of Romanian Towns
  • Emil DrăghiciPresident of the Association of Romanian Communes
  • Tatiana BadanPresident of the Congress of the Local Authorities of Moldavia
Language: RO


Room: Spiru Haret (same floor as the Media Center)
13:30-14:15  (UTC+2)
Press conference

​Theme: Proximity, Democracy, Solidarity - the EU’s future priorities to preserve cohesion in Europe

Spea​kers: 

  • Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the Eur​opean Committee of the Regions
  • Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe, United Nations
  • Robert Sorin Negoiță, Mayor of Bucharest-3rd District 3, President of the Association of Romanian Municipalities and President of the Romanian delegation to the European Committee of the Regions
  • Gabriela Firea, Mayor of Bucharest

Moderator: Serafino Nardi, Head of Press, European Committee of the Regions​

More information

Romania leads the EU at a time when important decisions will shape the future of Europe, and in particular the UK’s expected exit from the EU on 29 March, the European elections in May and negotiations on the EU long-term budget after 2020. At a time of growing populism, the Romanian EU Presidency and the European Committee of the Regions have placed cohesion at the centre of their priorities. Referring to the main challenges facing Europe today, the speakers will set out the purpose of the Summit and what reform is needed to preserve the cohesion of the European Union.
Room: Spiru Haret (same floor as the Media center)
19:30-20:00 (UTC+2)
Press Point

Theme: Brexit: What impact on EU’s regions and cities and lessons learnt?

Speakers: 

  • Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the European Committee of the Regions
  • Albert Bore (UK/PES), Member of Birmingham City Council, President of the UK delegation to the CoR
  • Michael Murphy (IE/EPP)​, Councillor, Tipperary County Council, President of the Irish delegation to the CoR
  • Carina AutengruberPresident of the European Youth Forum​
Moderator (tbc)

More information

Speakers will answer questions from the press on the impact of Brexit on the EU’s regions and cities. They will discuss how the EU will support cities and regions most exposed to Brexit, and lessons learnt for the future of the EU. They will also react to recent calls from regions for improved access to funding in the next EU long-term budget needed to support the regions most affected.

Room: Press conference room Spiru Haret
Friday, 15 March 2019
09:00-10:00 (UTC+2)
Keynote and debate: Building the EU from the ground up with our regions & cities

Welcoming remarks by Vasile-Daniel Suciu, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development and Public Administration.

Theme: Working together to reinforce Europe

Keynote speeches: ​
​Video message of Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission
Corina Creţu, Commissioner in charge of Regional Policy

Room: Alexandru I. Cuza
10:00-10:30 (UTC+2)
Coffee break
10:00-10:30 (UTC+2)
Interview opportunities

​Who: 100 young elected politicians

Theme: What do young people expect from the EU? How to increase young people engagement in European affairs? 

More information

Following a call for interest, 100 young local and regional politicians have been invited to Bucharest to contribute to the debate on the future of Europe

The selected young representatives will share their views on issues such as how to better involve young elected politicians in European affairs; how the European Committee of the Regions can establish a permanent exchange with young local and regional leaders?; and what the EU regions, cities, parliaments and political parties can do to increase their engagement in European affairs.​

Room: Alexandru I. Cuza
12:00-12:15 (UTC+2)
Interview opportunities

Theme: Launching of the Network of Regional Hubs project 

Who will be there: 

  • Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the European Committee of the Regions
  • Representatives of the 20 regions selected to participate in the pilot phase of the project

More information

​​The CoR President and representatives of the 20 regions selected for the project will be available for media interviews to present and discuss the initiative.

The European Union is often criticised for producing too many, too bureaucratic laws, which can be seen as interfering with the lives of citizens and business. The European Commission has responded to this criticism by giving priority to “Better Regulation”, aiming at avoiding unnecessary burdens and red tape, encouraging citizens and stakeholders’ contribution to policy-making, and ensuring that EU action is based on evidence and clearly assessed impacts.

Considering that two-thirds of EU legislation are implemented at local and regional level, cities and regions have valuable first-hand experience in applying EU rules on the ground. As the institutional voice of regions and cities in the EU, the CoR is uniquely placed to collate the experience from cities and regions in the implementation of European law, and channel it back to the EU legislators.

With this in mind, the Committee is setting up a pilot project (2019-2020) consisting of a Network of “Regional Hubs” (contact points) to monitor and assess the implementation of EU legislation locally. The initiative was one of the recommendations of the European Commission’s Subsidiarity Task Force and is part of the “New way of working” advocated by the Task Force.

Following a call for applications and based on a set of specific criteria, the Committee has selected 20 regions to serve as regional hubs during the pilot phase of the project. See the list of participating regions​

The Network will start its work focussing on three EU policy areas having significant impact at local level: public procurement, air quality and cross-border health-care.​

Room: Nicolae Iorga
12:55-13:00 (UTC+2)
13:15-14:00 (UTC+2)
Press Conference

​Theme: What does the future hold for an EU of 27?

Speakers: 

  • Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the European Committee of the Regions
  • Markku Markkula, First Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions
  • Vasile-Daniel Suciu, Romania's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development and Public Administration
  • Eugen Orlando Teodorovici, Romania's Minister of Public Finance​

More information

The future of the European Union has dominated much of the EU’s agenda since mid-2016, when a majority of British people voted to leave the Union. Referring to the Summit Declaration, the speakers will set out what the EU27’s priorities must be and how to strengthen its democratic legitimacy among citizens. The speakers will discuss the current challenges facing Europe, and the future role of regions and cities in the EU through improved governance, decision-making and investment.

Room: Press conference room Spiru Haret
14:00-15:00 (UTC+2)
Lunch
Room: Media Center