The downloadable version of the programme is available here: Draft programme
Please note this is a draft programme, timings are subject to change
Arrival at the venue - Square de Meeûs 1, 1000 Brussels
Welcome address and programme introduction
- André Sobzcak - Secretary General, Eurocities
- Carlota Roses - Subdirector-General for Support for the Internationalisation of Local Governments, Generalitat de Catalunya
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Guillem Ramirez, Head of Learning and capacity-building
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Andrés Ferrer, Eurocities Academy Officer
Walk to DG REGIO
Meeting with officials from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy. Presentation of cohesion policy tools, urban funding mechanisms, and the European Urban Agenda, with a specific focus on how municipalities can access resources and influence policy design at the EU level.
- Caroline Callens, Head of Unit, DG Regional and Urban Policy Spain and Portugal, European Commission
Practical information for Day 2 (timing, walking directions to external venues).
Gather at Eurocities office - Square de Meeûs 1, 1000 Brussels
Meeting at the European Commission's DG JUST. EU officials present the current state of play on EU democracy policy, including the Democracy Shield, the Rule of Law framework, and EU initiatives on media freedom and disinformation. Followed by a discussion on how these tools connect to local governance and what cities can do to engage with and amplify these agendas.
- Daniel Fleischer-Ambrus, Team Lead, Democracy, DG JUST, European Commission
Session at the Committee of the Regions (CoR), the EU's assembly of local and regional representatives. Presentation of the CoR's role in EU policymaking and how local governments can formally feed into the legislative process. Discussion of current CoR workstreams relevant to democracy, cohesion, and local governance.
- Gianluca Spinaci, Green Deal Advisor, Committee of the Regions
Walk back to the venue
- Ester Borràs Andreu, Delegada del Govern davant la Unió Europea , Generalitat de Catalunya
Panel discussion with representatives from city offices in Brussels (Barcelona, Lille, Budapest, Twente sharing how they structure their EU presence, what advocacy strategies work, and how they connect local priorities to European processes.
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Laia Segura Cueto, Head of the Barcelona Representation Office in the EU Ajuntament de Barcelona
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Bart Molenkamp, EU Public Affairs officer, City of Enschede
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Wim de Jaeger, Lille Metropole
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Benedek Jávor, City of Budapest (TBD)
A first encounter with European parliamentary politics, meeting with one or more MEPs. An open conversation on the state of EU democracy, the role of cities in the European project, and the political challenges that connect local and European governance and democracy, from disinformation to polarisation movements.
- Dario Nardella, MEP, S&D, European Parliament
Facilitated closing session of Day 2, held at the Delegation. Participants share in pairs or plenary: one insight gained, one question that remains, and one potential action for their municipality. First concrete inputs toward Section 4 of the Municipal Strategy Brief are noted.
Structured working session facilitated by Eurocities, in city pairs or small groups. Participants reflect on the two days of visits, identifying their city's key EU entry points, the most relevant institutions and networks, and the implications for their Municipal Strategy Brief (Section 4: EU engagement strategy). Groups share emerging ideas in a brief plenary exchange.
Each city takes two minutes to share one priority they are taking home from the visit and one concrete next step they commit to. Eurocities and Generalitat staff offer brief reflections and encouragement. A collective note of commitments is captured.