The 12th CORLEAP Annual Meeting, scheduled for September 7 and 8, 2023, is bringing together regional and local authorities to discuss pressing issues within the Eastern Partnership framework.
The welcome addresses, featuring notable figures such as Tornike Rijvadze, Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, and Archil Chikovani, Mayor of Batumi, will provide a warm introduction to the event. The gathering will also benefit from the insights of key individuals like Pavel Branda, Vice-Mayor of Rádlo Municipality and CORLEAP Bureau member, and Zurab Abashidze, Deputy Chair of Tbilisi City Assembly and CORLEAP Co-Chair, who will offer introductory remarks.
Throughout the day, various sessions will delve into critical topics. Discussions on "Cities and regions' voice on Eastern Partnership in the new geopolitical reality" will feature prominent figures such as Alin-Adrian Nica, President of Timiş County Council, and Amb. Dirk Schuebel, EU Special Envoy for the Eastern Partnership. Additionally, there will be discussions on the "CORLEAP revised Action Plan 2023-2024" and "Local authorities' dialogue with citizens in EaP countries," with valuable insights from experts and practitioners.
The meeting will also include presentations and discussions on CORLEAP reports, notably "What can we do with our partners" by rapporteur Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdańsk, and "E-services for citizens at the local level: what good came out from COVID-19 pandemic?" by rapporteur Zurab Abashidze, Deputy Chair of Tbilisi City Assembly. The day will conclude with the announcement of the new Co-Chair and closing remarks, underscoring the significance of CORLEAP in advancing local and regional cooperation within the Eastern Partnership.
On September 8th, the CORLEAP Annual Meeting will host two informative sessions. Session I will focus on the "Role of municipalities in good governance," featuring panelists including Mr. Andres Jaadla, Ms. Marika Chkhikvishvili, Mr. Sandro Sordia, and Mr. Hovsep Khurshudyan, will discuss topics like citizen participation and local budgets. In Session II, titled "Role of municipalities in territorial development," panelists such as Mr. Radim Sršeň, Mr. Giorgi Dididze, Ms. Nino Latsabidze, and Ms. Beka Vachatradze will delve into subjects like peer-to-peer cooperation and integrated regional development, highlighting municipalities' vital role in Eastern Neighbourhood Policy implementation.
CORLEAP observers and key partners will also have the opportunity to contribute to the discussions.