Programme

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Euromed Summit of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions

Malta, 18-19 June 2024

 

PROGRAMME

18 June 2024

11:30 - 12:00 | Registration summit participants

12:00 - 12:45 | Networking lunch

12:45 - 14:00 | Opening session

Introduction:  Dimitris Dimitriadis, President, EESC Section for External Relations

Moderation: Jihen Boutiba, General Secretary, BUSINESSMED        
Hind Ben Ammar, Executive Secretary, Arab Trade Union Confederation (ATUC)

  • Ian Borg, Maltese Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade
  • Oliver Röpke, President, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
  • Perit David Xuereb, Chairman, Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD)
  • John Paul Grech, Ambassador, Deputy Secretary-General in charge of Social and Civil Affairs, Union for the Mediterranean

Keynote speech: Lidija Pavić-Rogošić, EESC co-rapporteur, Youth involvement in social and civil dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean region (REX/583)

14:00 - 14:30 | Networking coffee

14:30 - 16:30 | Session 2: Workshops

This session is dedicated to work in smaller groups, in order to develop more specific recommendations.

Workshop 1: Involving youth in participatory processes in the world of work

  • Chair: Emmanuelle Roure, DG Employment
  • Key speakers
    • Rabéa KHARFI President of the National Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CNESE) Algeria tbc
    • Hend Mgaieth, SOLiD[1] coordinator, BUSINESSMED and founder of the MENA-LATINA Youth Network
    • Mr Jalal Belmami, President of the Youth Committee, Arab Trade Union Confederation (ATUC)

 Languages: AR/EN/FR

Workshop 2: Involving youth in structured dialogue with public institutions

  • Chair: Luca Jahier, Member, Euromed Follow-Up Committee, EESC 
  • Key speakers:
    • Dafina Peci, Executive Director, National Youth Congress Albania
    • Jason Zammit, Senior Manager, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, Malta National Youth Agency
    • Ronen Cohen, Trade Union Secretary, Histadrut HaNoar HaOved Ve HaLomed[2] Israel

Languages: AR/EN/FR

16:30 - 17:00 | Networking coffee

17:00 - 18:00 | Session 3: Restitution of the workshop conclusion

In this session, participants of session 2 will present the main recommendations developed in their respective workshops.

  • Chair:  Lucie Studnicná, President, EESC Workers’ Group

    • Karol Zabawa, Expert on Social Policies, Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK)

    • Dusko Cvjetinovic, Deputy Executive Director, Citizens’ Association  ‘NESTO VISE’[3]

Debate with summit participants

18:00 - 20:00 | Networking cocktail (hosted by the EESC)

19 June 2024

09:00 - 09:15 | Opening remarks

  • María Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, Vice-President, EESC Section for External Relations
  • Charles Arbid, President, Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) Lebanon

09:15 - 10:45 | Session 4: Climate change and water politics

The Mediterranean region is strongly exposed to climate change and faces fast-rising temperatures, water scarcity and desertification. In session 4, participants will explore ways to mitigate the effects of climate change and to empower youth, women, indigenous and local communities in this context.

  • Chair: Milena Angelova, rapporteur for the EESC opinion Water Politics: Empowering Youth, Women, Indigenous and Local Communities (REX/585)
  • Ahmed Majdalani, President, Economic and Social Council of Palestine
  • Moncef Ziani, Rapporteur[5], Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) Morocco
  • Cristina Estévez, Group I member (trade unions), Economic and Social Council (CES) Spain
  • Ahmad Al Khazali, Co-Chair, ARLEM[6] and mayor of the Greater Ramtha municipality, Jordan

Debate with summit participants

10:45 - 11:15 | Networking coffee

11:15 - 12:55 | Session 5: Migration and skills

This session will analyse the potential of migration to address labour and skills shortages in a way that benefits origin as well as destination countries. Participants will also explore how to improve the recognition of skills and qualifications and how to facilitate the access of migrants to trainings and apprenticeships.

Chair: Séamus Boland, President, EESC Civil Society Organisations’ Group

  • Stefano Mallia, President, EESC Employers’ Group
  • Musa Shteiwi, President, Economic, Social and Environmental Council (ESEC) Jordan
  • Cinzia Del Rio, president, EESC SOC[7] section
  • Mohamed Abdellahi Siyam, Vice-President, Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) Mauritania 

Debate with summit participants

12:55 - 13:00 | Closing remarks

  • Thomas Wagnsonner, president, EESC Euromed Follow-Up Committee

13:00-14:00 | Light lunch

Light lunch (hosted by the Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission)

Practical information

Venue: AX The Palace Malta  - High Street, Sliema, SLM 1542  - Malta

Interpreting: You can speak and listen to Arabic/English/French

Contact: euromed@eesc.europa.eu

X:  @EESC_REX  #Mediterranean         
 

[1] EU project to promote social dialogue within the Southern Mediterranean region.

[2] Youth movement of the General Organization of Workers in Israel (Histadrut).

[3] Non-governmental organisation working with organisations from the civil society sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

[4] Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion.

[5] Rapporteur on integrated water resources management, the Nexus water - energy - food – ecosystems and control of access to natural resources

[6] Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly.

[7] Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship.