Wednesday 20 April

11.30 - 15.30
CEMR Policy Committee (CEMR members only)

16.00 - 18.00
Opening Ceremony of the 25th Congress of European Municipalities and Regions
Welcoming words:

Constantinos Yiorkadjis, Mayor of Nicosia

Alexis Galanos, Mayor of Famagusta, President of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities
Iigo de la Serna, Mayor of Santander, CEMR Co-President and Acting President

Opening session: Listen to the world, invent a brighter future!

Keynote speech:

Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Film-director and Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations
Environment Programme

Plenary debate with :

Markku Markkula, President of Committee of the Regions
Mpho Parks Tau, Mayor of Johannesburg
Yvan Mayeur, Mayor of Brussels
Stefano Bonaccini, President of Emilia-Romagna, president of AICCRE
Eva Paunova, Member of the European Parliament (tbc)
With contributions from participants to the Congress
Moderator: Martin Watson

18.00
Cypriot evening reception

19.00
Projection of the movie HUMAN directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand

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Thursday 21 April
9.30 - 11.00
Parallel sessions
Local finances under pressure
Moderator: Martin Watson

Philippe Laurent, Mayor of Sceaux, CEMR Spokesperson on Local Finances,

(France)
Carmen Kiefer, Austrian Association of Municipalities, Deputy Mayor of
Kuchl (Austria)
Esa Kalio, European Association of Public Banks (Finland)

E&F

Governing with citizens: using SMART technologies to fight municipal corruption

Kyriakos Hadjittophis, Mayor of Ayios Athanasios (Cyprus)

Vincent Ncho, Vice-Governor of Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
Juana Lopez Pagn, Deputy Director for International Relations, Spanish
Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (Spain)
Valentina Rigamonti, Senior Regional Coordinator for Western Europe,
Transparency International
Diana Lopez Caramazana, Head of the Local Government Unit, UN-Habitat.

B, T & I

Integrating refugees in our local communities

Moderator : Santo Caruso, CEMR Spokesperson on Asylum and Integration, Mayor
of Aci Sant'Antonio (tbc)

Irena Guidikova, Head of Division, Directorate of Democratic Governance,

Council of Europe
Lena Micko, President of SALAR (Sweden)
Agnese Papadia, Legal Migration and Integration Unit, DG Migration and
Home Affairs of the European Commission
Nawel Rafik -Elmrini, Deputy Mayor of Strasbourg (France)

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S&C

Bringing Europe closer to you!

Florence Forzy Rafford, Municipal Councillor for European Affairs - City of

Bordeaux (France)
Gary Robinson, Leader of Shetlands Islands Council (United Kingdom)
Georgios Markopouliotis, Head of European Commission Representation in
Cyprus
Andreas Kiefer, Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional
Authorities, Council of Europe

EU

Tools towards green, inclusive and prosperous cities

Ilmar Reepalu, CEMR Spokesperson on Urban Policies, Councillor of Malm

(Sweden)
Franois Bertrand, Deputy Director for Sustainable Planning, French
Ministry of Housing and Sustainable Home (France)
Holger Robrecht, Deputy Regional Director, International Council for Local
Environmental Initiatives - ICLEI

G&L

11.30 13.00
Parallel sessions
Which opportunities and responsibilities for cities and regions after COP21?
Moderator: Martin Watson

Ronan Dantec, Spokesperson for United Cities of Local Governments (UCLG)

on the International negotiations on climate, French Senator (France)
Sian Reid, Councillor for the Environment - City of Cambridge, CEMR
spokesperson on Climate and Energy (United Kingdom)
Jean Pierre Mbassi, Secretary General UCLG Africa, member of
PLATFORMA, partner in the Covenant of Mayors Sub-Saharan Africa
Lucio Botarelli, Head of the Climate and agrometerological unit of Arpae
(Regional agency for prevention, environment and energy of EmiliaRomagna)
Aurelien Lechevallier, Diplomatic advisor to the Mayor of Paris (France)

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E, C & E

No decentralised cooperation without citizens empowerment! How to take on

board civil society?
Moderator: Patrizio Fiorilli

Michel Laloge, Head of sector unit B2 - Civil Society Organisations and Local
Authorities, DG DEVCO, European Commission
Miguel de Clerk, Director of Echos Communication
Massimo Toschi, Advisor to the President of the Region Tuscany for
cooperation and international relations (Italy)
Clestine Ketcha Courtes, UCLG Champion for Development Cooperation,
President of REFELA, Mayor of Bangangt (Cameroon) (tbc)
Secou Sarr, Director of ENDA Energy-Environment-Development
Roland Ries, Mayor of Strasbourg, President of Cits Unies France (tbc)

C&P

The Covenant on Demographic change: adapting our cities and communities to the
ageing society

Helen Campbell, Vice-President of AGE Platform Europe

Serge de Patoul, CEMR Spokesperson on Demographic Change, Deputy
Mayor of Woluwe Saint Pierre (Belgium)
Rui Gonalves Dos Santos, Mayor of Vila Real (Portugal)

S&C

Local public services in 2030: challenges and opportunities

10

Gunilla Westenberg-Dupuy, Deputy Mayor of Suresnes (France)

Victor Proena, Mayor of Alccer do Sal (Portugal)
Ronny Frederickx, President of UDITE, European Federation Local Authority
Chief Executive Officers
Mads Samsing, President of the EPSU Standing Committee for local and
regional governments

The role and impact of private investors in local development

Concepcin Gamarra Ruiz-Clavijo, Mayor of Logroo (Spain)
Sabine Van Dooren, Deputy mayor of Kapellen, CEMR Spokeperson on local
governments as employers

www.cemr2016.eu | @ccrecemr | #cemr2016

E&F

B, T & I

14.00 - 15.30
Parallel sessions
What place for local governments in Europe's future architecture?
Moderator: Martin Watson

11

Robert Bright, Leader of Newport Council (United-Kingdom)

Cor Lamers, Mayor of Schiedam, CEMR Spokesperson on Air quality,
(Netherlands)
Nuria Marn Martnez, Mayor of Hospitalet de Llobregat (Spain)
Rainer Haas, President of Ludwigsburg County (Germany)
Andreas Kettis, Head of European Parliament Information Office in Cyprus

EU

Fighting poverty and social exclusion: what role for cities and regions?
Moderator : Prof. Dr. Jens S. Dangschat, Head of the Institute of Sociology for
Spatial Planning and Architecture, Vienna University of Technology

12

Luc Martens, CEMR-Vice-President, Municipal Councillor of Roeselare,

President of VVSG and the Research Centre of the Flemish Cities (Belgium)
Melia Avraam, Municipal Councillor and President of the Social Welfare
Committee of Nicosia (Cyprus)
Maria Stratigaki, Deputy Mayor of Athens in charge of Social Affairs
(Greece)

S&C

Reviving local public finances: facts and figures

13

Gerry Muscat, Head of Division, Regional and Urban Development Division,

Projects Directorate, European Investment Bank
Nathalie Le Denmat, head of the Committee on Local Finance and
Development UCLG
Representatives of Cities with EIB Framework Loans (TBC)

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E&F

Circular economy in Europe: the way forward

Moderator : Linda Gillham, CEMR Spokesperson on Environment, Councillor of
Runnymede

14

15

Josep Maria Tost, President of ACR+, Association of cities and regions for
Recycling and sustainable resource management
Monika Romenska, Regulatory & Public Affairs Manager, Extended Producer
Responsibility - EXPRA
Tjaa Ficko, Deputy Mayor of Ljubljana (tbc)
Member of the European Parliament (tbc)

Projects, you said? Meet and find partners!

E, C & E

C&P

16.00 - 17.30
Parallel sessions
Facing conflicts consequences in the Southern Neighbourhood: the role of towns
and regions
Moderator: Patrizio Fiorilli

16

Aqel Biltaji, Mayor of Amman (Jordan)

Eleni Loucaidou, Deputy Mayor of Nicosia (Cyprus)
Cor Lamers, Mayor of Schiedam (The Netherlands)
Jean Roatta, Deputy Mayor of Marseille (France)
Mayor from Lebanon (tbc)

C&P

Respondent :
Francisco de la Torre Prados, Mayor of Mlaga, CEMR Spokesperson on
International cooperation / European Neighbourhood Policy
Innovative forms of financing local development

17

Konrad Ritter, international expert on crowdfunding projects for public

infrastructures & on local climate finance
Elise Steyaet Representative of CITYnvest
Kenroy Quellenec-Reid, Financial engineering manager, Greater London
Authority (UK)
Paul Swinney, Economist, Center for Cities (UK)
Dimitris Kafantaris, Mayor of Pylos (Greece) (tbc)
www.cemr2016.eu | @ccrecemr | #cemr2016

E&F

How can I become a green city?

Moderator: Martin Watson

18

Linda Gillham, CEMR Spokesperson, Councillor of Runnymede, LGA

Sandra Pedro, Head of Urban Management Division of Torres Vedras
(Portugal)
Nicole Wanders Wengler, DG ENVI, European Commission
Franois Bertrand, Deputy Director for Sustainable Planning in the French
Ministry of Housing, Territorial Equality and Rural Areas (France)

E, C & E

Lobbying national & EU institutions: raising your game

Moderator: Thomas Prorok, KDZ

19

Betty De Wachter, Coordinator of the Association of Flemish Cities and

Municipalities VVSG (Belgium)
Simona Wolesa, Austrian Association of Cities and Towns (Austria)
Kelmend Zajazi, Executive Director NALAS
Graeme Preston, former European Commission official, DG Transport

EU

Promoting diversity and fighting radicalisation at local level

20

Luc Martens, CEMR-Vice-President, Municipal Councillor of Roeselare,

President of VVSG and the Research Centre of the Flemish Cities (Belgium)
Christiane Overmans, Councillor of the Federal City of Bonn, Member of the
Board of the German Section of the CEMR (RGRE) (Germany)
Lola Lpez, Commissioner for Migration Affairs, Barcelona City Hall (tbc)
Sebastian Sperber , Programme Manager of the European Forum for Urban
Security (tbc)

20.00 - 23.00
Gala Dinner
Hosted by his Excellency Mr Nicos Anastasiades,
President of the Republic of Cyprus

www.cemr2016.eu | @ccrecemr | #cemr2016

S&C

Friday 22 April
9.30 - 11.00
Parallel sessions
Moderator: Martin Watson
Decentralisation in Europe: a state of affairs and vision for the future
21

Stphane Gurard, Observatory of Local Autonomy

Agns Le Brun, Mayor of Morlaix (tbc)
Benedikt Herrmann, Team Leader Behavioural Economics Team, Joint
Research Centre, European Commission Ispra
Benoit Cathala, French National Institute for training of LRGs Civil Servants
Daniel Popescu, Centre of Expertise of the Council of Europe

G&L

The European Charter for Equality of women and men in local life after 10 years:
Results and Ways Forward
Moderator: Ibon Uribe, CEMR Spokesperson on Equality, Mayor of Galdakao (Spain)
22

G&L

Maria Kremmou, Councillor of Lapithos (Cyprus)

Martina Schrck, Deputy Mayor Graz (Austria)
Anders Knape, Chaiman of Karlstad City Council, CEMRs Executive President
(Sweden)

Networking for better cities: opportunities and benefits

Moderator: Evgenia Koutsomarkou, Partnership Officer, URBACT Secretariat
23

Martina Rauter, Councilor for youth, City of Maribor (Slovenia)

Albert Garca Macian, European projects officer, City of Mollet del Valls
(Spain)
Pat Kuss, Department of education policy, City of Antwerp (Belgium)

www.cemr2016.eu | @ccrecemr | #cemr2016

C&P

2030 Emission impossible? The new integrated Covenant of Mayors for Climate &
Energy
Moderator : Mr. Juan Espadas Cejas, Mayor of Sevilla (Spain)
24

Anthi Charalambous, Director of the Cyprus Energy Agency (Cyprus)

Sandra Pedro, Director of the Urban Areas Management Division, Torres Vedras
(Portugal)
Michael Kristensen, Chairman of Engineering and Environmental Committee,
Sams (Denmark)

E, C & E

Sustainable food in urban communities

25

Markta Braine-Supkova, Founder and General Director, International

Urban Food Network (IUFN)
Antoine Limouzin, City of Lyon (France)
Yanis Evmolpidis , City of Athens (Greece)
Sara Jervfors , City of Sodertalje (Sweden)
FAO representative (tbc)

S&C

11.30 - 13.00
Parallel sessions
European territorial development: vision and scenarios towards 2050
Moderator: Martin Watson

26

Carola Gunnarsson, Mayor of Sala, CEMR Spokesperson on Territorial

development (Sweden)
Oldich Vlask, Councillor of Hradec Krlov CEMR Executive
President (Czech Republic)
Peter Mehlbye, European Observation Network for Territorial Development
and Cohesion - ESPON
Normunds Popens, Deputy Director-General For Implementation, DG REGIO
Carlos Martinez Minguez, Mayor of Soria (Spain)
Valrie Letard, Vice-President of the Regional Council of Nord Pas de Calais
Picardie (France) (tbc)

www.cemr2016.eu | @ccrecemr | #cemr2016

EU

Culture in sustainable cities: learning with Culture 21 Actions in Europe

27

Catherine Cullen, UCLG Special Adviser on culture and sustainable cities

Catarina Vaz Pinto, Deputy Mayor of Lisbon, in charge of culture (Portugal)
Mieke Damsma, Deputy Mayor of Maastricht, in charge of culture (The
Netherlands)

S&C

Building a toolkit for the localisation of the SDGs

28

Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Mayor of Seberang Perai (Malaysia)

David Lucas Parrn, Mayor of Mstoles (Spain)
Peter Kurz, Mayor of Mannheim (Germany)
Marloes Borsboom, Vice Mayor of Rijswijk (The Netherlands)
Denise Fampou Tchaptchet, Mayor of Douala II (Cameroon)

C&P

Innovation at local level: inspiring solutions to transform our cities

29

David Ludlow, Smart Cities Research Director, University of West England

(United Kingdom)
Marie Cugny-Seguin, Project Manager, Urban and Territorial Affairs,
Environmental European Agency
Uwe Ferber, PhD, Director of STADT+ (Germany)
Katerina Jupova, GISAT (Czech Republic)
Jocelyne Bougeard, Deputy-Mayor of Rennes (France) (tbc)

B, T & I

Young European Leaders for Active Citizenship

30

Ahmad Alhendawi, UN Secretary-Generals Envoy on Youth (tbc)

YELAC Participants (30)

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G&L

14.00 - 15.30
Closing Plenary
Towards a local and regional vision of Europe 2030

Jan Olbrycht, President of the Urban Intergroup, Member of the European Parliament
Frdric Valletoux, Mayor of Fontainebleau, Coordinator of Debating Europe 2030
Eleni Loucaidou, Deputy Mayor of Nicosia and Member of the Committee of the Regions
Jean-Claude Frcon, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Council of
Europe

Moderator: Martin Watson

With contributions of participants to the Congress

Technical visits in Nicosia Municipality

31
32
33

21 April 10.00 to 12.30

21 April 14.30 to 17.00
22 April 10.00 to 12.30

Cultural excursions (optional & at own cost)

A
B

22 April - 16.00 to 19.00

23 April - All day

EU
G&L
S&C
E&F
E, C & E
B, T & I
C&P

EU Integration
Governance & Leadership
Society & Culture
Economy & Finance
Environment, Climate & Energy
Business, Technology & Innovation
Cooperation & Partnerships

Contacts and questions

All questions may be redirected to Amlie Laussucq, Advisor on Statutory Affairs at CEMR by email
(amelie.laussucq@ccre-cemr.org) or phone (+32 2 500 0545).

www.cemr2016.eu | @ccrecemr | #cemr2016