PROGRAMME
MODERATOR Andrea WESTALL, Senior Research Fellow, Open University, Trustee, Foundation for Democracy and Sustainable Development
INTRODUCTION by Udo BULLMANN, S&D Group President
THE TOOLS: From the growth paradigm to a sustainable development paradigm. Shifting the paradigm may require a major change in the existing governance processes and rules, towards an approach which mobilises and interconnects all levels of governance as well as social partners and civil society around sustainability objectives. Major EU policies may require a re-think in order to fully integrate all sustainable development dimensions. Is a reform of the European Semester enough, or does the EU need a fundamentally different process? What do the successes and failures of the past processes tell us, i.e. the Lisbon Strategy, and the Europe2020 strategy? How direct should be the linkage with the 2030 UNSDGs?
Discussion with:
Pervenche BERÈS, S&D Group Member, ECON Coordinator
Cristina GALLACH, High Commissioner for Agenda 2030, Spanish Government
Peter SCHMIDT, President of the Sustainable Development Observatory EESC
Kathleen VAN BREMPT, S&D Group Vice President
Marianne KETTUNEN, Principal Policy Analyst and Lead of Global Challenges and SDGs
SECOND DISCUSSION
THE TERRITORIES: Social and ecological innovation at local and regional levels. As the governance levels closest to citizens, local and regional authorities play a major role to re-direct urban and rural territories towards sustainable development. How can Europe help best to support sustainable development policies and initiatives at local and regional levels? Which direction shall the next Cohesion and Common Agriculture Policies take in this respect?
Discussion with:
Éric ANDRIEU, S&D Group Vice President
Thierry LUCAS, Head of the UN Environment Brussels Office
Frédéric VALLIER, Secretary General CEMR
Stella BIANCHI, Responsible for Sustainable Development, PD Italia
THIRD DISCUSSION
THE PEOPLE: Increased participation of citizens, of non-governmental organisations and of the business sector in achieving sustainable development. Sustainable development cannot be solely pursued by public authorities and through top-down policy approaches. Broad societal mobilisation will be key. What does this mean for public governance processes at European and national levels? How can sustainable development lead to strong forms of participatory democracy and of citizens’ involvement. At the same time, sustainable development is not achievable without changing the current way of doing business. How can citizens become actors of positive change towards sustainable development? Is a legal framework for a new corporate governance the right way towards sustainable development?
Discussion with:
Bernedine BOS, CSR Europe’s Director of Services
Tanya COX, Senior Policy & Advocacy Manager, Plan International EU Office
Seb DANCE, S&D Group Member, ENVI rapporteur on SDGs
Giulio LO IACONO, Responsible Relations with Stakeholders, ASviS
Matthieu MEAULLE, Economic Adviser, ETUC
CONCLUDING DISCUSSION Towards a Europe of Sustainable Development.
Discussion with:
Mercedes BRESSO, S&D Group Vice President
Nicolas SCHMIT, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Economy, Luxembourg
Maroš SEFCOVIC, VP of the European Commission in charge of the Energy Union
A cocktail will be served after the conference
The conference will be streamed on the S&D website
