High level conference “EU cohesion policy: post-2020 perspectives for convergence and sustainable regions": Media Advisory
A high level conference dedicated to “EU cohesion policy: post-2020 perspectives for convergence and sustainable regions” will be held on 8 June 2018 at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia. The event will be the first public debate on the proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, which was announced in May.
The purpose of the conference is to enable the relevant stakeholders to convey their key messages regarding the future cohesion policy, taking into account the European Commission's legislative proposals for cohesion policy and the MFF for the period 2021-2027. The discussions will be based on three panels: "The European added value of cohesion policy", "The new EU budget - challenges and opportunities for cohesion policy after 2020", and "Risk and cost of non-cohesion of the EU regions”.
Commissioners and high level officials of the European Commission, members of the European Parliament and the European Committee of the Regions, and ministers from the Member States will participate in the forum. The conference will be streamed live online.
Agenda
8 June 2018 | Friday
8:30 - 9:15 Arrivals at the National Palace of Culture and handshake
9:15 - 9:30 Opening speech: Mr Boyko Borisov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria
9:30 - 11:30 Panel 1 “The European added value of Cohesion Policy”
Moderator: Mr Tomislav Donchev i, Deputy Prime Minister, Bulgaria
Panellists:
Ms Corina Crețu i, Commissioner for Regional Policy, EC
Ms Iskra Mihaylova i, Chair of the Committee on Regional Development, EP
Mr Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the European Committee of the Regions
Mr Richard Rasi, Deputy Prime-Minister for Investments and Informatization, Slovakia
Mr Lambert van Nistelrooij i, Member of the European Parliament, Netherlands
Mr Aaron Farrugia, Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds and Social Dialogue, Malta
11:30 - 11:40 Family photo
11:40 - 12:00 Joint briefing
12:00 - 14:00 Panel 2 “The new EU budget - challenges and opportunities for Cohesion Policy post-2020”
Moderator: Ms Lilyana Pavlova, Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2018
Panellists:
Mr Günther Oettinger i, Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources, EC
Mr Vladislav Goranov, Minister of Finance, Bulgaria
Mr Jerzy Kwieciński, Minister of Investment and Economic Development, Poland Ms Kerstin Westphal i, Member of the European Parliament, Germany
Mr Marc Lemaître, Director-General, DG "Regional and Urban Policy", EC
Ms Andriana Sukova, Deputy Director-General, DG "Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion", EC
Ms Ilyana Tsanova, Deputy Managing Director EFSI, European Investment Bank
15:15 - 16:45 Panel 3 “Risk and price of “non-cohesion” of the EU regions”
Moderator: Ms Tanya Hristova, Mayor of Gabrovo Municipality, Bulgaria
Panellists:
Mr Nikolay Nankov, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Bulgaria
Ms Alenka Smerkolj, Minister responsible for Development, Strategic Projects and Cohesion, Slovenia
Ms Gabrijela Žalac, Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds, Croatia
Mr Michiel Rijsberman, Regional Minister of Flevoland, the Netherlands
Mr Petr Osvald, Member of the European Committee of Regions, Councillor of the City of Plzeň, Czech Republic
Mr Andrey Novakov i, Member of the Committee on Regional Development, EP
Ms Charlina Vitcheva, Deputy Director-General, DG “Joint Research Centre”, EC
Prof. John Bachtler, Director, European Policy Research Centre, University of Strathclyde
16:45 - 17:00 Closure of the conference
Accreditation information
Accredited journalists can pick up their badges on Thursday, 7 June 2018 at the Registration Desk at Entrance B-2 of the National Palace of Culture between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Members of the press arriving in Sofia on the day of the event will be able to get their badges at the same entrance upon their arrival at the National Palace of Culture. Only accredited members of the press will have access to the National Palace of Culture.
Photos and videos
The conference will be streamed live in full on the Website of the Bulgarian Presidency. Throughout the day, photos and videos will be uploaded in the Photo and Video sections of the Website. All official photos from the event are also available for download in high resolution on the Flickr account of the Bulgarian Presidency. Videos can be downloaded from Vimeo.
Press contacts
In Sofia: Veselin Jelev, [email protected], +359 883 990 247
In Brussels: Genoveva Chervenakova, [email protected], +32 473 575 083