EMA is a network where political representatives from major European cities discuss the biggest challenges of European metropolitan governance.

The forum's objective is to define the bases for collaboration between the main European metropolises and their relations with national governments and European institutions.

Thursday, 11 of November

16:00 Visit to urban projects

The visit to urban projects will be defined according to the required security measures against COVID-19.

19:30 Welcome dinner

Friday, 12 of November

Local: Centro de Congressos da Alfândega do Porto, Rua Nova da Alfândega, Edifício da Alfândega

08:30 Registration and welcome coffee

Forum facilitator: Estela Machado, Porto Canal

09:15 Welcome and greetings

Rui Moreira, Mayor of Porto

Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues, President of Porto Metropolitan Area

Ernest Maragall i Mira, Vice-President of International Relations and Cooperation of Barcelona Metropolitan Area

Alexandra Leitão, Minister of State Modernization and Public Administration

10:00 Keynote Speaker: How to Boost Climate Neutral Metropolitan Areas: Green, Smart and Resilient

Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms. European Commission

10:30 Signature of the EMA political declaration / Photo session

10:45 Announcement by Kazimierz Karolczak, Chairman of the Board at Metropolis GZM of the EMA 2022 Forum.

10:50 Coffee break and press conference

11:00 - 12:15 Panel Discussion 1 - The New Metropolitan Agenda: (Re) Think, (Re)Design, (Re)Act

Metropolitan areas are the home for the largest share of the EU population, hosting the main economic, employment, cultural activities and key players in the identification of solutions for the new challenges and their impact on the life of millions of citizens and visitors.

The Covid-19 pandemic confronted politicians with new challenges, exposing some contradictions and vulnerabilities in the traditional models, but the day after opens large opportunities to (re) thing and (re) design our cities and to recover the economy.

Metropolitan areas can be game changers for the new sustainable, smart, resilient, and green recovery: urban public space, tourism, social life are all pieces to transform and to imagine our metropolitan areas of the future. The key question is simply whether to go “back to normal” or to use this moment to define the new metropolitan agenda.

Moderator: João Paulo Lourenço, Jornal de Notícias

Panel speakers:

Alison Gilliland, Lord Mayor of Dublin

Juha Eskelinen, Deputy Regional Mayor of Helsinki-Uusimaa Region

Jean-Claude Dardelet, Vice-President for International Relations of Toulouse Métropole

Juraj Droba, President of the Bratislava Region and Member of the European Committee of the Regions

Thijs Kroese, Board Member of Metropole Region Amsterdam

12:15 - 13:30 Panel Discussion 2 - Green and Smart Mobility: There Is No Turning Back

Transport is one of the sectors that were hit the hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. MaaS, urban logistics and green deliveries, tourism, new mobility services, shared mobility, city information platforms, e-governance and other emerging solutions are more and more present in our life.

Can we find a way out of the crisis and boost sustainable mobility for cites? Which policies responses can we provide? Is digital transformation the way to restore confidence in the system? Is access to digital infrastructure inclusive or will it exacerbate the persisting inequalities?

Moderator: Abel Coentrão, Jornal Público

Panel speakers:

Frederico Rosa, Vice-President of Lisbon Metropolitan Area

Roger Ryberg, County Mayor of Viken (Oslo)

Héléne Dromain, Vice-President for European and International Cooperation and Tourism of Lyon Métropole

Omar Al-Rawi, Member of Regional Parliament and of the City Council of Vienna

13:30 - 14:30 Lunch break

14:30 - Cities, Metropolitan Areas and the Twin Transition in Europe

Manuel Pizarro, Member of the European Parliament

14:50 - 16:15 Panel Discussion 3 - Recovery & Resilient Metropolis: The Financial Challenge

Pushing for climate friendly cities is largely connected to the capacity to adapt to the changing economic conditions and to rebuild trust. The new multiannual financial package and the Recovery and Resilient Funds open large opportunities for this adaptation while challenging the current financial and business models.

Although providing a boost to the economy, EU funds are just a part of the solution and key persistent challenges remain: How to address the financial gap at a metropolitan level? Which financial model should be adopted by metropolitan areas? How to involve citizens as a part of that model? Is financing the real game changer?

Moderator: Luisa Pinto, Jornal Público

Panel speakers:

Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues, President of Porto Metropolitan Area

Ernest Maragall i Mira, Vice-President for International and Cooperation of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area

Michał Olszewski, First Deputy Mayor of Warsaw

Pascal Smet, State Secretary in Charge of International Relations and Urban Planning of the Brussels-Capital Region and Regional Vice-President for Europe in Metropolis

16:15 – Final Notes: António Cunha, President of the North Regional Coordination and Development Commission

16:30 - Conclusions/End of the session: João Pedro Matos Fernandes, Minister of Environment and Climate Action

To watch the EMA 2021 forum click here.

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