WEBINAR: A vision for rural Europe – Harnessing the potential of rural areas

WEBINAR: A vision for rural Europe – Harnessing the potential of rural areas
Join us and let’s explore together the future of rural Europe!

https://reneweuropegroup.eu/en/events/

Alongside our speakers, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank, Michel Barnier, the European Commission’s Head of Task Force for Relations with the UK and former European Commissioner and Iratxe García Pérez, President of the S&D group in the European Parliament, we will share with you our vision for harnessing the potential of rural areas and how they can contribute to a more sustainable and prosperous Europe.

Rural areas can and should be playing a more prominent role in the Covid-19 recovery and reconstruction plan. With the right vision and with the appropriate policies in place, rural communities have the potential to drive the transition to a greener and more resilient Europe, for the benefit of urban and rural dwellers alike.

While the European Union is ready to take decisive steps to draw its strategy for the 2021-2027 period, this seminar aims to set out a ”one Europe” concept, closing the divide between rural and urban areas, East, West, North and South, establishing a roadmap for successful, sustainable and prosperous rural areas across our continent.

Event Agenda

14.30-15.00 – Opening session
▪️ Welcoming words by Dacian Cioloș, President of Renew Europe
▪️ Keynote address by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
▪️ Opening remarks by Werner Hoyer, President of the EIB

15.00-15.30 – Placing rural areas at the top of EU recovery’s agenda
Chaired by Dacian Cioloș, with:
▪️ Michel Barnier, Brexit Chief negotiator, former European Commissioner for regional policy and former French Minister
▪️ Iratxe García Pérez, President of the S&D group in the European Parliament (tbc)
▪️ Andrew McDowell, Vice-President of the EIB

15.30-16.00 – Mobilising rural communities
Chaired by Hannes Lorenzen, Rural Networker, with:
▪️ Ilaria Signoriello, Farmer, National Forum for Social Agriculture, Italy
▪️ Katrina Idu, Latvian Rural Forum, European Rural Youth Parliament, Latvia
▪️ Petar Gjorgievski Balkan Rural Development Network, North Macedonia
▪️ Emilija Stojmenova-Duh University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
▪️Francesca Whitlock, Farmer, European network for community-led initiatives on climate change and sustainability, (ECOLISE), Spain

16.00-16.30 – Debate and questions from the floor

16.30-17.00 – Closing session and conclusions by
▪️ Norbert Lins, Chair of the EP Agriculture Committee
▪️ Pascal Canfin Chair of the EP Environment Committee (tbc)

▪️ Final remarks by Dacian Cioloș, President of Renew Europe