24 June 2010

International workshop organized by the Flemish Policy Research Centre for Sustainable Development and the Committee of the Regions

At the eve of a ‘Rio +20’ summit on sustainable development in 2012 and after the disappointment of Copenhagen in 2009, the debate on the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration is still ongoing. As it is agreed that sustainable development needs to be pursued at all levels, this workshop zooms in on initiatives taken by regions and the challenges they face. In the past decade, many regions have taken steps to institutionalize sustainable development. Moreover, they increasingly try to be involved in European and multilateral decision-making on sustainable development. Bringing together policy-makers and academics, this workshop offers some comparative perspectives on regional approaches for sustainable development and discusses how regions interact and cooperate with national and international levels.

The language of the workshop is English; there is no translation provided.

Programme

09.30	Registration
09.45	Opening session Prof Dr Hans Bruyninckx, coordinator of the Flemish Policy Research Centre for Sustainable Development Representative of the Flemish Minister-President
10.15	Panel 1: Sustainable development policies of regions Chair: Dr Kirsten Jörgensen, Freie Universität Berlin Introduction Sander Happaerts, Flemish Policy Research Centre for Sustainable Development The Flemish governance model for sustainable development Kris Bachus, Flemish Policy Research Centre for Sustainable Development - Coffee and tea, offered by the Committee of the Regions - The sustainable development policy of Quebec Dr René Audet, University of Ottawa Sustainable development in Wallonia Nicolas Pirotte, Cabinet of the Minister for Sustainable Development of the Walloon Government Discussion: obstacles and opportunities
12.15	Walking lunch
13.30	Panel 2: Regions and multi-level interactions Chair: Prof Kenneth Hanf, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona Introduction Karoline Van den Brande, Flemish Policy Research Centre for Sustainable Development Flanders and the international sustainable development debate Jan De Mulder, Representative of the Public Governance Department in the Sustainable Development Working Party of the Flemish Government The EU’s sustainable development policy Lea Vatanen, Secretariat-General, European Commission - Coffee and tea, offered by the Committee of the Regions - One Wales: One Planet Peredur John, Welsh Assembly Government EU Office The Belgian Presidency of the EU: federal-regional coordination on sustainable development Dieter Vander Beke, Belgian Federal Public Service for Programming on Sustainable Development Discussion: obstacles and opportunities
15.45	Closing session Paula Baker, Member of the Committee of the Regions, rapporteur on "The role of local and regional authorities in future EU environmental policy" Prof Dr Hans Bruyninckx, coordinator of the Flemish Policy Research Centre for Sustainable Development
16.15	Closing drinks

 

Venue

Committee of the Regions
Room TRE 7701 – 7th floor
Trierstraat 74
1040 Brussels - Belgium

Map

Participation is free, but registration is required before 17 June 2010.

Registration for the international workshop is no longer possible