EURegionsWeek 2023

For the sixth consecutive year Sardinia Region, through its EU Liaison Office - in the role of lead partner of the Peripheral European islands’ Regional partnership - has been selected by the European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission as the organiser of the high-level political conference dedicated to the island status, under the framework of the European Week of Regions and Cities.

The Conference entitled “After the European Parliament's resolution on island regions: what's next?” aims at relaunching the claims raised at the European level on the recognition of the island status with a view toward the next European legislature, in line with the European Parliament resolution of 7 June 2022 on “EU islands and cohesion policy: current situation and future challenges”.

The event takes place on Wednesday 11 October 2023, 9h30 – 11h00 at the premises of the Committee of the Regions - Rue Belliard 99/101 (Room JDE 52), Brussels.

The panel discussion will include, in the first session, the political leaders of the Governments of Sardinia (Italy), Balearic Islands (Spain), Corsica (France), Gozo (Malta), Crete and Ionian Islands (Greece), which belong to the regional partnership lead by Sardinia Region.

The second part of the event will be dedicated to a debate with high-ranking representatives of EU institutions, including MEPs, high-level representatives of the European Commission, members of the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee, political representatives of other European island local and regional authorities.

Simultaneous interpreting will be provided in English, French, Italian and Catalan.

To attend the conference, it is necessary to register to the event by 30 September 2023 via the dedicated webpage.

Registrations will be accepted up to the limits of room capacity on a first come first served basis.

AGENDA OF THE EVENT

ROUND TABLE
Moderator: Claudio Collovà, Policy Analyst, European Parliament
- Christian SOLINAS, President of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, CoR Member (Italy)
- Margalida PROHENS RIGO, President of the Balearic Islands Government (Spain)
- Clint CAMILLERI, Minister for Gozo in the Government of Malta (Malta)
- Marie-Antoinette MAUPERTUIS, President of the Corsican Assembly, CoR Member (France)
- Rodi KRATSA, Governor of the Ionian Islands Region, CoR Member (Greece) (TBC)
- George ALEXAKIS, Regional Councillor for European & International Affairs of the Region of Crete (Greece)

DEBATE
- Younous OMARJEE, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Regional Development (REGI) (France)
- Tonino PICULA, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the Intergroup for seas, rivers islands and coastal areas (SEArica) (Croatia)
- Josianne CUTAJAR, Member of the European Parliament, vice-Chair of the European Parliament SEArica Intergroup (Malta)
- Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee, rapporteur of the opinion “Main challenges faced by EU islands, and mountainous and sparsely populated areas” (Greece)
- Normunds POPENS, Deputy Director-General for Implementation, Directorate-General Regional and Urban Policy (REGIO), European Commission (Latvia)

CONCLUSIONS
Following the debate, the moderator will invite the panel to draw the final messages on islands policy-related open issues in the EU.

Practical information
When: Wed 11/10/2023, 09:30 - 11:00 CET
Where: Jacques Delors building, JDE 52
Format: Workshop
Theme: Breaking barriers to cross-border cooperation
Languages: English, Italian, French, Catalan