1

Congress

“Impact of accession to the European Union on municipalities and towns”

Thursday, 22nd April 2004

Brno, Czech Republic

Draft programme

9.00 – 10.00Registration of participants

9.30 – 10.00Press Conference

Morning Panels:

10.00 – 10.45

  • Welcome by Mr Petr Duchoň , Mayor of Brno
  • Opening of the Conference by Mr Oldřich Vlasák, SMO ČR President
  • Ceremonial speeches:

Mr Vladimír Špidla,Prime Minister of the Czech Republic

Dr Heinrich HOFFSCHULTE, CEMR First Vice-President

Mr Cyril SVOBODA, Minister for Foreign Affairs

HE Štefan FÜLE, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to the UK

Mr Pavel NĚMEC, Minister for Regional Development

10.45 – 12.45Presentations

Topic: Opportunities and Challenges of life in the EU from the point of view of municipalities

  • Mr Peter NEMETH, Mayor of Eisenstadt, member of Austrian Association of Cities
  • Mr Adam OGILVIE, Councillor and Executive Board Member, City of Leeds
  • Dr Erich PRAMBÖCK, Secretary General, Austrian association of cities and towns
  • Mr Frank HILTERMAN, VNG senior lobbyist for EU affairs in Brussels
  • A representative of the Central union of municipalities and communities of Greece – tbc

Discussion

12.45 – 14.15Lunch break

14.15 – 15.403 separate workshops

Seminar 1:Impact of EU legislation on towns/municipalities

Raporteur: Erich Pramböck

  • Mr Erich PRAMBÖCK, Secretary General of Austrian Association of Cities

Opening of the seminar, importance of lobbying

  • Ms Helle SEHESTED, Local Government Denmark,

Summary of Phare Twinning project “Strengthening Acquis implementation at regional level“ between Poland and Denmark

  • Mr Andrzej PORAWSKI, Executive Director of the Association of Polish Cities

Towns and cities as important employers

  • Ms Clare HUDSON, Policy Promotion Officer, Local Government International Bureau, Impact of European legislation regulating environment on local governments

Seminar 2:Town Twinning

Raporteur: Ms Susan Handley

  • Ms Susan Handley, International Partnerships and Projects Coordinator, LGIB,

General information about Twinning Partnerships of towns

  • Mr Risto RAIVIO, Town-twinning sector, Directorate-General for Education and Culture, European Commission, Twinning Partnerships and their grants
  • Ms Betty DE WACHTER, Coordinator, European and International cooperation, Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities,

Concrete examples of contribution of town partnerships

  • Presentations of practical Twinning partnerships:

Mr Mojmír JEŘÁBEK, Head of the International Bureau of the City of Brno, Partnership with Utrecht

Mr Jiří RANDUS, Mayor of Zubří

Partnership with Rosdorf

Seminar 3:Structural Assistance

Raporteur: Mr Petr Osvald

  • Ms Věra JOUROVÁ, Ministry for Regional Development of the Czech Republic

Programming documents Joint Regional Operational Programme – current development

  • Mr Peter NEMETH, Mayor of Eisenstadt, member of Austrian Association of Cities

The role of cities and towns at the preparation of programming assistance from Structural Funds

  • Ms Mary LYNCH, implementing agency Shannon Development, Ireland Development of rural areas with help of Structural Funds
  • Mr Petr OSVALD, Member of the City Board of the City of Plzeň, Office of the Lord Mayor of the City of Plzeň,

INTERREG III Community Initiative and opportunities for self-governments

15 h 45 Summing up of the seminars by the rapporteurs

Conclusions:

  • Mr Jeremy Smith, CEMR Secretary General
  • Mr Jaromir JECH, SMO ČR Executive Vice-President

16 h 30Visit of Urbis Fair

19 h 00VIP banquet

simultaneous interpretation will be provided in Czech and English

Seminar organised by the Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic

and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions,

with the support of the City of Brno and the Urbis Fair